MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Kutztown University softball continued to begin its day of competition fast, winning the opener of a two-game doubleheader Saturday 5-3 over Goldey-Beacom, before falling 9-3 to West Virginia State in the nightcap at the Snowbird Freeze Out Tournament in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
 
The Golden Bears are now 3-5 overall and will play one more again down south.
 
Alyssa Donato (Cedarville, N.J./Cumberland Regional) led the way offensively for Kutztown, finishing with three hits on the day. She also scored a run and had two RBI. Ava Bottiglia (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) and Gillian Walsh (Easton, Pa./Easton) all recorded two hits on the day. Walsh added two RBI.
 
Kutztown will complete its competition at the Snowbird Freeze Out Tournament with a game tomorrow, Sunday, Feb. 16, against Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference foe Lock Haven at 10 a.m.
 
Kutztown 5, Goldey-Beacom 3
 
Kutztown scored in each of the first three innings, including a three-run bottom of the second that gave KU its first lead of the game as it was able to hold on late.
 
The Lighting struck first for a two-run inning in their first at-bats via a two-run homerun over the center field wall.
 
The Golden Bears bounced back quickly, however, getting onto the scoreboard after Goldey-Beacom's starting pitcher walked four KU batters, the fourth being Donato, allowing Kate Ostaszewski (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) to come home.
 
For the second consecutive day, the Kutztown lineup showed its power. In the bottom of the second inning, both Bottiglia and Jessica Davidheiser (Mertztown, Pa./Brandywine Heights) went yard. Bottiglia's first career homerun was a two-run dinger that put KU out in front and proved to be the game-winning hit. Davidheiser's was also the first homerun of her career in Maroon and Gold.
 
KU tacked on another run in the bottom of the third inning thanks to a Donato double to center field that scored Jenna Lipowski (Nanticoke, Pa./Greater Nanticoke Area) and gave KU a 5-3 lead, one that would last until the final out was made in the top of the seventh.
 
Amber Brugger (Levittown, Pa./Neshaminy) recorded the victory inside the circle for Kutztown, her first of the year. She came into the game in the top of the second inning and finished with six innings pitched and striking out five.
 
West Virginia State 9, Kutztown 3
 
The Yellow Jackets took control of the game in innings two-through four, scoring two in both the second and third and take a 4-0 advantage.
 
KU answered with a three-run top of the fourth inning. After Hannah Auvil (Baltimore, Md./Sparrows Point) reached base safely leading off, Lipowski walked and then Donato singled to load the bases. Walsh then stepped up to the plate in a big situation and the freshman delivered with a two-run double to right field to get Kutztown onto the scoreboard. Knappenberger then reached safely one batter later and Davidheiser tallied a sacrifice fly that brought home Donato and made the score just 4-3.
 
West Virginia State, however, scored four times in their next at-bats in the bottom of the fourth, and all but put the game away, adding another insurance run in the sixth.