CLERMONT, Fla. – The Kutztown University softball team started its spring break trip just the way it had hoped to. It got off to a strong start by winning both of its games on day one Monday in Clermont, Fla., by taking down Pitt-Johnstown 8-0 in the opener of the double-header, followed by a 10-8 victory over Indiana (PA).
 
The sweep of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) foes, which were considered non-conference games, came in two different fashions. The Golden Bears (5-6 overall) led from start to finish in dispatching the Mountain Cats 8-0 in a five-inning game. In game two, they had to fight back from three different deficits over the course of the game, and broke a tie in their final at-bats to hold on to a 10-8 win over the Crimson Hawks.
 
Freshman Katelyn Ostaszewski (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) finished with a four-hit day, including four runs and three RBI. Senior Sara Keeny (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent) had a hit in each game, raising her current hit streak to 14, which included all 11 games this season and the last three of last year. She also scored three runs and ran her career total to 124, which is tied for 10th all-time in program history.
 
Freshman pitcher Bridget Bailey (Norwood, Pa./Interboro) came up large for the Maroon and Gold inside the circle, earning the win in both games, as she raises her record over .500 to 4-3 on the season.
 
Kutztown plays two tomorrow, Tuesday, March 12. It will take on Concord at 9:30 a.m., followed by a game against Charleston (W.V.) at 2 p.m. Both games will be played at the Minneola Athletic Complex in Minneola, Fla.
 
Kutztown 8, Pitt-Johnstown 0 (F/5)
 
Kutztown tied season-highs with four players recording multiple hits and nine players overall with at least one hit as the offense jumped ahead early and rode the arm of the freshman pitcher Bailey, who pitched the final four innings to pick up the victory.
 
Ostaszewski, Tamara Jennings (Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy), Cheyenne Jones (Levittown, Pa./Harry S Truman (Northwest Florida State)) and Taylor Knappenberger (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) all finished with two hits to lead the KU offense. Ostaszewski tied a season-high with two RBI and Kristin Kaleycik (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) also chipped in with a season-high two RBI on a fifth-inning triple that wound up allowing the Maroon and Gold to finish off the game in five innings.
 
Bailey and classmate Amber Brugger (Levittown, Pa./Neshaminy) combined to throw five innings and allow just three hits in giving Kutztown its first shutout this season. Bailey entered in the second inning and finished with four strikeouts in winning her third game in her first collegiate season.
 
In almost a carbon-copy lead off to the game, Keeny singled and then stole second. The senior stole her 96th career theft and is second all-time both in program and PSAC history. Ostaszewski then brought her home with KU's next at-bat. Kutztown opened the game with three straight hits to lead off the top of the first as Jennings singled to put runners at first and third. Even when KU made outs, they were productive as Jenna Lipowski (Nanticoke, Pa./Greater Nanticoke Area) and Hannah Auvil (Baltimore, Md./Sparrows Point) picked up RBI even in recording outs.
 
After two scoreless innings in the batter's box followed, the Golden Bears used the next two innings to finish off the Mountain Cats early.
 
With one out in the top of the fourth, Jones doubled to center field and then was followed by a Knappenberger single to put runners on first and third. Pinch-hitter Alyssa Donato (Cedarville, N.J./Cumberland Regional) singled to left and Jones came around to score. Two batters later, Ostaszewski recorded two RBI with one swing of the bat on a base-hit to center field that brought home pinch-runner and her sister Emily Ostaszewski (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan (C.C. of Philadelphia)) and Knappenberger for a 6-0 KU lead.
 
Kaleycik's three-bagger was the dagger in the fifth as it scored Jones and Paola Texidor (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township) and staked KU to the 8-0 advantage that proved to put the nail in the coffin.
 
Freshman Dani Nordyk (Orange, Conn./Amity) recorded a hit for Kutztown in one of her two at-bats.
 
Kutztown 10, IUP 8
 
Basketball uses the term 'lead changes' with its back-and-forth play, and that is just the way to sum up this one.
 
The lead changed hands five different times throughout the seven innings. But fortunately for Kutztown, it had the edge when the final out was recorded and is now on a two-game win streak.
 
IUP got on the board first in the top-half of the first inning, but KU answered right away in its first at-bats. Two hit batters and a base hit highlighted the first three KU at-bats as the bases were loaded with nobody out. Lipowski picked up an RBI on a fielder's choice and then KU worked a little trickery with a double steal that sent Zoe Texidor (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township) to second and Ostaszewski home as Kutztown responded with two runs.
 
After a scoreless second inning, the Crimson Hawks got two back and a 3-2 lead.
 
But the fourth and fifth innings proved to be vital for the Golden Bears as they combined for six runs (three each inning) and went ahead 8-6 heading into the sixth. A highlight included Lipowski's first career triple in the fifth that brought home two KU runners.
 
IUP wouldn't go away and tied the game at 8-8 in top of the sixth, but Knappenberger and Keeny worked walks and then Ostaszewski and Jennings recorded key RBI that not only put KU back into the lead, but gave it a two-run cushion that Bailey was able to use to shut the doors on IUP. Lipowski also showed her wheels in nabbing her first stolen base this season in the sixth.
 
It was a successful opening day in Florida and KU will look to keep the momentum going tomorrow morning against Concord at 9:30 a.m.