KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University softball team was one hit away from earning a two-game split in its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) season-opening double header with West Chester University Friday afternoon at North Campus Field, but was unsuccessful, as it dropped both games by scores of 8-2 (game one) and 8-4 (game two).
 
After a quiet game one at the plate led to an 8-2 setback, the Golden Bears (13-12 overall, 0-2 PSAC) were primed to even the double header with the Golden Rams (21-12, 2-0) as they took an early 3-0 lead through three innings and led 3-2 into the sixth.
 
The game went into extra innings and after a 1-2-3 top of the eighth inning, senior Sara Keeny (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent) led off the bottom-half with a double. Needing just one hit to end the game, the next three batters recorded outs. After a deflating end to the inning, West Chester followed that up with a four-run ninth to take game two.
 
Taylor Knappenberger (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) finished the day with three hits, two runs and two RBI, including a two-run home run in game one. Keeny, Jenna Lipowski (Nanticoke, Pa./Greater Nanticoke Area) and Tamara Jennings (Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy) each had two hits in the double header. Lipowski and freshman Dani Nordyk (Orange, Conn./Amity) both tallied an RBI each in game two.
 
Kutztown will hit the road tomorrow, Saturday, March 30, for two at Millersville University beginning at 1 p.m.
 
West Chester 8, Kutztown 2
 
After a scoreless first two innings between the teams, West Chester broke out for six runs over the next two to take control, leading 6-0 after four. The Golden Rams would tack on two more in the top of the sixth before Kutztown finally broke through.
 
The Maroon and Gold scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth off one swing of the bat. After Hannah Auvil (Baltimore, Md./Sparrows Point) was hit by a pitch leading off the frame, Knappenberger, one batter later, took a 1-1 pitch and crushed it over the center field wall to put KU on the scoreboard.
 
West Chester 8, Kutztown 4 (9 innings)
 
Kutztown used the sting of losing game one and took the initiative in game two, scoring the first three runs.
 
With two outs in the bottom of the first inning, Jennings was hit by a pitch. Lipowski then ripped an RBI double to right center field that allowed Jennings to come all the way home for the game's first run.
 
In the second, Knappenberger and Nordyk combined to score two runs. Knappenberger led off with a single and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Auvil. Nordyk then reached safely on a West Chester error and stole second on the ensuing pitch to put runners at second and third. Then another Golden Rams error allowed both runners to come around for a 3-0 advantage.
 
West Chester fought back and posted two runs in both the fourth and sixth innings to take its first lead of the game at 4-3. But KU answered right away, getting one run on two hits and three walks, threatening for more, but coming away with just one to tie the game at 4-4.
 
Then after freshman pitcher Amber Brugger (Levittown, Pa./Neshaminy) sat down West Chester 1-2-3 in the top of the eighth inning, Kutztown threatened in its next at-bats. Keeny hit the leadoff double, but after a failed attempt at a sacrifice bunt, a line out and a groundout pushed the game to the ninth, where the Golden Rams broke out to post the victory.