Spring Break Stats
 
CLERMONT, Fla. – The Kutztown University softball team ended its six-day spring break trip down in Clermont, Fla. in style. KU swept both games of a doubleheader against Clarion University 7-2 in the opener and then 9-1 in a five-inning second game Thursday afternoon.
 
The Golden Bears (11-8 overall) are riding a five-game win streak and have won six of their last seven games overall, bringing momentum with them back to Kutztown, where they will have one week off until their next game.
 
The 16 combined runs is the second highest total during a doubleheader this season, two runs shy of the 18 runs scored in wins over Winston-Salem State and UNC Pembroke on Feb. 3. KU also combined for 21 hits as a team in both games, two behind the 23 hits during that Feb. 3 doubleheader.
 
Junior Sara Keeny (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent) led all batters in the opener, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. It is the second three-hit game for Keeny this season, who leads the team with a .417 batting average. She also had a team-high 11 hits during the 10-game trip.
 
Gabby Tareila (Limerick, Pa./Spring-Ford) and Cheyenne Jones (Levittown, Pa./Harry S Truman (Northwest Florida State)) each had two hits for the Maroon and Gold, who were able to score five runs in the first two innings. Tamara Jennings (Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy) was a big part of the offense, tallying both of her RBIs in that frame. Keeny added an RBI sacrifice fly in the top of the third to push the KU advantage to 6-0, and allowed starting pitcher Erin Fortney (Bedford, Nova Scotia/Bishop Macdonell (Rollins)) to pick up her first victory of the season.
 
Fortney went the distance for the first time this season, throwing for season-highs in innings (7) and strikeouts (7), allowing just two earned runs. Outside of two innings, she never faced much trouble from the Golden Eagles (2-12) lineup, never allowing more than one runner to reach base during that period. The junior also helped herself out at the plate, finishing 1-for-4 with a run scored.
 
Keeny remained a force on the base paths, swiping three bags, giving her 13 on the season, ranking first in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). She now has 78 career stolen bases, fifth all-time in program history.
 
Asja Saito (Pickering, Ontario/Pickering) came around to score twice in the 7-2 opening victory.
 
In game two, Kutztown jumped out early once again and did not give Clarion a chance at a comeback, outhitting the Golden Eagles 12-4, while scoring nine runs in its first four at-bats as a team.
 
Jones led four Golden Bears with multiple hits, joining Kristin Kaleycik (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty), Tareila and Jacqueline Walsh (Downingtown, Pa./Coatesville). The redshirt-junior Jones completed her second straight two-hit game going 2-for-4 and adding two runs and three RBIs. One of those two hits was a two-run home run to center field in the bottom of the second inning, her first long ball of the season. Her RBI single in the first brought home Alyssa Oakley (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) for KU's first run that sparked a four-run first inning.
 
Walsh added a home run of her own, a two-run shot in the first that scored Tareila one batter after she brought around Jones on an RBI single. Walsh finished with a trio of RBI, going perfect at the plate (2-for-2), and also scored twice.
 
Freshman Morgan Mather (Brampton, Ontario/Brampton Centennial (Florida State College)) received her first at-bat of the season, and she took advantage of it, singling up the middle for an RBI base hit. Sophomore Taylor Knappenberger (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) also got into the fun, picking up an RBI in the fourth inning, and allowing Saito to score what-would-be the game-clinching run.
 
Junior Jackie Morell (Bensalem, Pa./Bensalem) got the start inside the circle, and went five strong, allowing four hits and no earned runs, while striking out three to earn her second win of the season.
 
Jennings and Oakley each added one hit a piece for KU. Oakley also stole her eighth base on the season, second on team.
 
Over the course of the six-day trip, Tareila led the team hitting .538 in 13 at-bats, while Kaleycik was right behind at .429 in 21 plate appearances. The freshman led the team with nine RBIs and 15 total bases. Sophomore pitcher Adrianna Dilal (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) threw 23.0 innings, going 3-1 with a 0.61 ERA and 14 strikeouts.
 
Kutztown now returns home and has a week off before its next game, a nonconference doubleheader against Chestnut Hill on Thursday, Mar. 22 beginning at 2:30 p.m.