MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Kate Ostaszewski (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) and Brittany Hubler (Hatboro, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) each had two hits at the plate, and sophomore pitcher, and reigning Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Freshman of the Year, Bridget Bailey (Norwood, Pa./Interboro) earned her first victory of the season inside the circle as Kutztown defeated Lock Haven, 6-5, Sunday morning to end its trip to South Carolina and the Snowbird Freeze Out on a positive note.
 
The Golden Bears (4-5 overall) left the weekend with a winning record, going 3-2 in the tournament, and will have some positive things to look to before having nearly a month off until their next game.
 
Kutztown wasted little time in getting ahead of its conference foe, sending two runners home in its first at-bats. Ostaszewski led off with a single to center field. After a fielder's choice and then a hit by pitch put runners on at first and second, Jenna Lipowski (Nanticoke, Pa./Greater Nanticoke Area) and Alyssa Donato (Cedarville, N.J./Cumberland Regional) recorded back-to-back singles to center, scoring two runs. Donato's was credited with an RBI as the runner coming home after Lipowski's base hit scored after a throwing error by the center fielder.
 
KU's run in the bottom of the third was created on the base paths. Following a Hubler leadoff single through the right side of the infield, pinch-runner Sam Trafford (Jamison, Pa./Central Bucks West) advanced to second on sacrifice bunt by Lipowski, ran to third on a wild pitch in the next batter, and then raced home following an errant throw by the catcher.
 
The Maroon and Gold offense doubled their total in the fourth inning. Jessica Davidheiser (Mertztown, Pa./Brandywine Heights) singled through the left side in the first at-bat and then advanced to third following a throwing error by the third baseman that allowed Ostaszewski to reach base safely. Davidheiser and Ostaszewski then successfully performed a double steal as Davidheiser scored on the play. Ostaszewski then touched home plate two batters later after a Hubler double to left field. Lipowski recorded an RBI sacrifice fly the next batter, after Hubler advanced to third on a passed ball.
 
Bailey went the distance, going seven innings, striking out six. She really had to buckle down in the final two frames as the Bald Eagles (1-4) came within just one run of tying the game. After getting onto the scoreboard with a run in the top of the sixth, Lock Haven used the long ball in the seventh to mount a comeback attempt. With two outs, Rachel Gricoski hit a grand slam to pull her team to within 6-5. But Bailey didn't mess around and recorded the final out in the next at-bat.
 
Gillian Walsh (Easton, Pa./Easton) and Ava Bottiglia (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) each finished with one hit for KU.
 
Kutztown is off now until March. KU will next hit the diamond for their spring break trip beginning on Saturday, March 7, against Winston-Salem State in Winston-Salem, N.C. The Golden Bears will then play six days in Florida.