WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Kutztown University softball team began its 13-game spring break trip down south with a doubleheader sweep over Winston-Salem State University Saturday in Winston-Salem, N.C., by scores of 4-3 and 9-0.
 
The Golden Bears (6-5 overall) made a quick pit stop in the Tar Heel state before heading to Florida for the remainder of their trip.
 
Zoe Texidor (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township) recorded two hits and Alyssa Donato (Cedarville, N.J./Cumberland Regional) had two RBI to help lead KU to a one-run opening-game victory. Donato, Jenna Lipowski (Nanticoke, Pa./Greater Nanticoke Area) and Gillian Walsh (Easton, Pa./Easton) each finished with two hits, while Donato (3), Lipowski (2) and Kate Ostaszewski (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) all had multi-RBI game twos in helping KU take down the Rams in six innings.
 
Amber Brugger (Levittown, Pa./Neshaminy) started game on inside the circle and threw five innings, allowing just two runs while striking out four to earn her second win of the season. Bridget Bailey (Norwood, Pa./Interboro), who threw the final two innings of game one to earn the save, started game two, going the complete game, five innings, allowing just one hit and striking out four for her second win on the year.
 
After a day off, Kutztown will be back on the diamond on Monday, March 9, for games against West Liberty (2 p.m.) and Barry (7 p.m.).

Kutztown 4, Winston-Salem State 3
 
It took a little bit of time for the bats to warm up in the opener.
 
Kutztown found itself on the scoreboard first, in the top of the third inning, as Taylor Knappenberger (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) scored the game's first run after the Rams dropped a fly ball. Ostaszewski then hit a sacrifice fly to left field that brought home Texidor to give KU a 2-0 lead in the top of the fifth.
 
Winston-Salem cut its deficit in half with its first run in the bottom-half of the fifth, but Donato doubled her team's lead with a two-run homerun over the center field wall for a 4-1 advantage.
 
The Rams chipped away for a run in both the sixth and seven innings to create drama that Bailey was able to diffuse and secure the KU victory.
 
Kutztown 9, Winston-Salem State 0
 
Kutztown may have wanted to get out of North Carolina and into warmer, Florida weather, as it made quick work of game two.
 
Lipowski was the first of three Golden Bears to hit dingers in this one, going yard in the top of the second inning to put her team out in front 1-0. The junior then followed an RBI double by Ostaszewski in the third with an RBI single the other way to right field to climb the KU lead to 3-0.
 
In the fourth, freshman Sarah Harvey (Swanton, Vt./Missisquoi Valley Union) walked with the bases loaded, and then Ostaszewski reached on a fielder's choice as the Maroon and Gold went ahead 5-0.
 
Donato broke the game open in the fifth with a three-run drive to left center field, and then Walsh kept the party going with a shot to center for a 9-0 advantage.
 
Bailey had plenty of support, as she was dealing in this one.