ORANGEBURG, N.Y., - The Kutztown University softball team went off for 22 runs to pick up two victories in a doubleheader sweep of Nyack College on Tuesday afternoon at South Orangetown Softball Complex. The Golden Bears won the opener 10-1 and followed it with a 12-0 victory (five innings) in game two.
KU's offense combined for 19 hits, three home runs and 16 RBIs on the afternoon, led by
Danielle Sienko (Philadelphia, Pa./William Penn Charter)'s 3-for-5 performance with five RBIs and two runs scored. Sienko,
Blayse Cholish (Peckville, Pa./Valley View) and
Bridget Newman (Ardmore, Pa./Haverford) all hit home runs, leading to back-to-back double-digit scoring outputs by Kutztown, the first time the feat has happened this season.
Kutztown's pitching was just as good as its hitting.
KU saw both of its starting pitchers throw complete-games.
Savannah Nierintz (Clifton Heights, Pa./Upper Darby) picked up her 14th victory of the year, throwing seven innings with just two hits and one unearned run while striking out four in the opening game.
Bridget Newman (Ardmore, Pa./Haverford) started game two and improved to 6-1 while going five innings, allowing a single-hit and striking out six.
The Golden Bears started off the opener scoring two runs in the top of the first on the Cholish two-run shot. Nyack answered with a run in the bottom half of the inning before Kutztown responded with one run in the third and two in the fifth to take a 5-0 lead. KU pulled away after a five-run seventh to seal the 10-1 win.
Kutztown again started fast in game two, jumping out to a 4-0 lead after one inning. The Golden Bears went on to add seven runs in the fourth and one more in the fifth to close out the 12-0, five inning victory.
Tamara Jennings (Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy) finished game one 3-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Sara Keeny (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent) went 2-for-4 with three stolen bases and two runs scored in game two. Newman hit 3-for-4 on the day, with an RBI and four runs scored. Ten different KU batters registered at least one hit while eight players drove in at least RBIs.
KU resumes PSAC play with a road doubleheader against Millersville University (23-15, 9-5 PSAC) on Friday, April 22 at 2:30 p.m. Kutztown then returns home for another PSAC doubleheader, this time against West Chester University (43-5, 10-2 PSAC) on Saturday, April 23, with first pitch set for 1 p.m.
The Golden Bears clinched a PSAC playoff berth with its 9-1 win over East Stroudsburg University on Senior Day last Saturday, April 16. KU is second in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East division, two games back of West Chester.
