PEMBROKE, N.C. – The Kutztown University softball team earned its first victory of the 2020 season, splitting a doubleheader Saturday afternoon against West Virginia State University to conclude their four-game weekend in Pembroke N.C.
 
The Golden Bears (1-3 overall) fell in the opener 4-0, but then defeated the Yellow Jackets (1-1) 9-5 in the second game.
 
A quartet of KU players recorded three hits total on the day, including Kate Ostaszewski (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan), Jenna Lipowski (Nanticoke, Pa./Greater Nanticoke Area), Brittany Hubler (Hatboro, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) and Jessica Davidheiser (Mertztown, Pa./Brandywine Heights). Lipowski tallied two homeruns and five RBI on the day, all in the nightcap.
 
Kutztown will have about two weeks off before returning to the field in the Snowbird Freeze Out Tournament in Myrtle Beach, S.C., beginning on Friday, Feb. 14.
 
Kutztown 9, West Virginia State 5
 
Kutztown got onto the scoreboard right away in its first at-bats. Following singles to the outfield by Taylor Knappenberger (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) and Hubler, Lipowski connected on a three-run home run, her first of the season to stake KU to a 3-0 lead.
 
After West Virginia State got one back in the top of the second, Hannah Auvil (Baltimore, Md./Sparrows Point) went deep for her first of the year, a solo shot over the right center field wall for a 4-1 advantage.
 
The Maroon and Gold broke the game open with another three-run inning in the bottom of the third. After a base hit by Hubler, Lipowski hit her second homer of the day. Davidheiser then doubled in the next at-bat, advanced to third on a groundball and then later scored on a wild pitch.
 
The Yellow Jackets scored twice in their next at-bats, but Kutztown added two in the bottom of the fifth via an RBI single from Boggs and an Ostaszewski RBI.
 
Freshman Sarah Harvey (Swanton, Vt./Missisquoi Valley Union) got the start inside the circle and earned her first collegiate victory.
 
West Virginia State 4, Kutztown 0
 
West Virginia State, like Kutztown in game two, used an early three-run inning to cushion a lead and hold on for a win. The Yellow Jackets had their first two batters single, and following an out, recorded a double and a single to bring home the runs.
 
West Virginia State tacked on an insurance run in the fifth after a leadoff double came around to score two batters later.
 
Kutztown was held to six hits.