SALEM, Va. - Sophomore Danielle Amato (Henderson, Nev./Coronado) hit two home runs for the Kutztown University softball team on Friday as it started out the night with a 4-1 win over Wheeling Jesuit before defeating West Virginia State by a score of 7-5 in the nightcap at Moyer Stadium at the Salem Invitational.
 
Amato got Kutztown (13-7) on the board early in game one against Wheeling Jesuit with a three-run home run in the bottom of the first off of Kori Locke. Sara Keeny (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent) started off the inning with a single and Nicki Mann (Greentown, Pa./Wallenpaupack Area) reached on a fielder's choice on a bunt attempt. Amato's three-run home run was all KU would need in the game as Savannah Nierintz (Clifton Heights, Pa./Upper Darby) tossed a complete-game, only allowing one run.
 
Amato pushed KU's lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the fourth on a solo home run to left field for her second home run of the day.
 
Wheeling Jesuit scored its lone run in the top of the fifth on a RBI single by Molly Welsh, but would not score the rest of the game.
 
Nierintz held Wheeling Jesuit to three hits on the day and struck out four batters in the dominant performance on the mound.
 
Amato finished the game one victory going 2-for-3 with two runs scored, two home runs and all four of KU's RBIs. Blayse Cholish (Peckville, Pa./Valley View) went 1-for-2 with a run scored and Keeny recorded KU's only other hit of the game. Mann scored a run and recorded a stolen base.
 
In game two, Amato got the start on the mound for KU. She pitched the first 3.2 innings before giving way to Bridget Newman (Ardmore, Pa./Haverford) for the final out in the top of the fourth.
 
Cholish got the Golden Bears on the board early with a sac fly to center to bring in Keeny to give KU a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
 
West Virginia State struck back in the second on a sac fly to tie the game at 1-1. Kutztown took the lead back in the bottom of the inning on a single from Tamara Jennings (Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy) that brought in two runs for a 3-1 lead.
 
Unfortunately for KU, West Virginia State scored four runs in the top of the fourth to take a 5-3 advantage. Shandell Curtis hit a three-run home run and Brookelyn Hale connected on a RBI single.
 
The Golden Bears fought their way back in large part due to the offense from Cholish. She had a RBI single in the fourth to cut the lead to 5-4 and then hit the game-winning three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth to seal the game for KU with a 7-5 advantage.

Nierintz closed out the game for KU on the mound by pitching the final three innings. She only allowed one hit and struck out six batters to finish off the Yellow Jackets. It was her second win of the day and fifth of the season.
 
The Golden Bears had 10 hits in the victory over West Virginia State. Keeny, Cholish, Amato and Jacqueline Walsh (Downingtown, Pa./Coatesville) each had two hits. Cholish had a game-high five RBI and Walsh scored a game-high three runs.
 
Jennings chipped in with a hit and two RBI, while Gabby Tareila (Limerick, Pa./Spring-Ford) also had a hit in the win.
 
Kutztown returns to action tomorrow, Saturday March 12, at 12 p.m. against Ohio Valley at the Salem Invitational.