MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Kutztown University softball team brought their bats down south as the team slugged its way to a game one 5-2 victory over Southern Connecticut State by hitting three homeruns, but then fell in game two, 8-0, to Le Moyne Friday afternoon at the Snowbird Freeze Out Tournament in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
 
With the win in the opener, the Golden Bears (2-4 overall) had won two straight games before falling in the nightcap.
 
Sophomore Kate Ostaszewski (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) finished the day with three hits to lead all KU batters. She also had a run and an RBI. Senior Taylor Knappenberger (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland), along with juniors Alyssa Donato (Cedarville, N.J./Cumberland Regional) and Jenna Lipowski (Nanticoke, Pa./Greater Nanticoke Area) each recorded two hits, all of which came in the same game for each respective hitter.
 
Freshman Kelly Delaney made her first collegiate appearance inside the circle and earned the victory for Kutztown, throwing a complete game, while striking out six batters.
 
Freshmen Jessica Davidheiser (Mertztown, Pa./Brandywine Heights) and Gillian Walsh (Easton, Pa./Easton) both had a hit for KU, while Walsh also scored a run on the base path.
 
Kutztown will continue its schedule at the Snowbird Freeze Out Tournament with games against Goldey-Beacom and West Virginia State at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. respectively, tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 15.
 
Kutztown 5, Southern Connecticut State 2
 
The long ball was in full display as three different Golden Bears hit homeruns. Donato and Lipowski, along with freshman Brittany Hubler (Hatboro, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) all went deep to account for four of Kutztown's five runs scored. Hubler's two-run shot in the top of the seventh inning proved to be the game-winner.
 
Donato's drive the opposite way over the right field wall put KU out in front 1-0 in the top of the second and allowed Dulaney to pitch with an early lead, making her first career start in Maroon and Gold.
 
The Owls (0-1) one-upped KU and took the lead with their at-bats in the fourth inning, via a two-run drive by Jayden Delaporta.
 
But in the next half-inning, Kutztown got one back and tied the score at 2-2 thanks to Ostaszewski's run-scoring single to center field that brought home Walsh.
 
The game remained tied 2-2 up to the seventh inning. Ostaszewski reached base safely with one out. Then, two batters later, Hubler delivered the blow, a two-run HR out to center field, and a 4-2 KU advantage. To add some extra insurance, Lipowski decided to follow suit the next batter by going over the same center field wall.
 
Delaney earned her first collegiate victory, going the complete game, allowing just the two earned runs, while striking out six and giving up five hits.
 
Le Moyne 8, Kutztown 0 (5 inn.)
 
The Dolphins had two big innings that put the game away early. Their first four-run inning came in the bottom of the second. Unfortunately for Kutztown, Le Moyne scored all four runs with two outs and were aided by two errors from the KU defense.
 
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Dolphins brought nine batters to the plate and recorded four hits, while KU had another two-error frame. An RBI single with two outs brought home the eighth run and the game was ended due to an eight-run rule.