CLERMONT, Fla. – Junior Tamara Jennings (Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy) and freshman Kristin Kaleycik (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) both had three RBI days as the Kutztown University softball team split its two games Sunday at the NTC College Spring Games in Clermont, Florida. KU lost its opener 8-7 to the University of Findlay, but followed that up with a 4-2 victory over the University of Charleston (WV), the first win of the spring break trip for the Golden Bears (6-7 overall).
 
Kaleycik and Jennings took turns ripping base hits that delivered two runs in the first and fifth innings respectively against the Golden Eagles (9-4). KU gave Charleston its first loss in six games.
 
Kaleycik's triple in the top of the first inning came with two outs and gave the Maroon and Gold a 2-0 lead before they had to hit the field on defense. Jennings, who finished the game 3-for-3, had her two-run single in the fifth put Kutztown out in front 4-0 and allowed starting pitcher Adrianna Dilal (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) some wiggle room in the circle. Dilal (3-3) did not need much. The sophomore went the distance, going seven strong, striking out five and not allowing an earned run, picking up her third win of the season.
 
Sara Keeny (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent) went 2-for-4 and scored a run, Alyssa Oakley (Allentown, Pa./Parkland), Taylor Knappenberger (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) and Blayse Cholish (Peckville, Pa./Valley View) each added singles for KU, which ended a four-game losing streak with the win over Charleston.
 
There was plenty of scoring in the opener as Kutztown and Findlay combined for 15 runs and 19 hits.
 
Kutztown scored all of its runs in the second and sixth innings, scoring four in the second and three in the sixth, while the Oilers tallied at least one run in every inning but one.
 
Findlay (6-10) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in its first at-bats, all unearned runs. Then in the second, the Oilers added another as KU saw itself down 4-0. But in the bottom half of the frame, the Golden Bears tied it up, scoring four runs on just one hit. Three KU players walked and two others were hit by a pitch, but the highlight of the inning came when Knappenberger ripped a two-run double to left field, the first of her two hits in the game, bringing home Jacqueline Walsh (Downingtown, Pa./Coatesville) and Zoe Texidor (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township). Keeny walked, allowing Knappenberger to score, then Kaleycik hit a sacrifice fly that scored Asja Saito (Pickering, Ontario/Pickering) for a 4-4 score.
 
After a scoreless third inning, Findlay tacked on a run in each of the next three, building a 7-4 advantage heading to the bottom of the sixth. That inning, KU tied up the game once again, scoring three runs on three hits, highlighted by a two-run homerun by Gia Santigate (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph by-the-Sea), her first this season and third in her career.
 
But in the seventh, the Oilers scored a run and then shut the door on KU in the bottom half of the inning.
 
Ava Bottiglia (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) and Jackie Morell (Bensalem, Pa./Bensalem) combined for seven innings. Bottiglia struck out seven in 4.2 innings. Gabby Tareila (Limerick, Pa./Spring-Ford), Jenna Lipowski (Nanticoke, Pa./Greater Nanticoke Area), Oakley and Walsh all added one hit for KU.
 
Kutztown returns to action on Tuesday, Mar. 13 when it takes on Augustana University in the first of two games on the day. First pitch is 2:30 p.m.