FLORENCE, S.C. – The Kutztown University softball team took a three-run lead into the top of the seventh inning, but watched as the go ahead run was standing on second base. KU got out of the jam and held on to defeat Lenoir-Rhyne 6-5 Sunday afternoon in its final game of three-day Francis Marion Invitational in Florence, S.C.
 
The Golden Bears (4-3 overall) went 3-2 during the five games down south, winning both games against West Liberty and dropping contest to Lenoir-Rhyne and Francis Marion.
 
Unlike on Friday when KU allowed the Bears to win the game in the seventh with two runs, senior pitcher Bridget Bailey (Norwood, Pa./Interboro) shut the door on their comeback effort, getting Kory Hammett to line out to second base with the tying run on third and go ahead run on second and two outs. Bailey came on to pitch at the start of the fourth inning, relieving starter Sarah Harvey (Swanton, Vt./Missisquoi Valley Union), and earned her fourth victory of the season, allowing just three hits and two earned runs, while striking out three.
 
Kutztown was outhit 8-4 but managed to take advantage of timely hits with runners in scoring position. The big blow came off the bat of freshman Sarah Harvat (Bangor, Pa./Bangor), who got the start at catcher. Harvat cleared the bases with a three-run triple, her first collegiate hit and KU jumped out to a 4-0 lead. Classmate Brianna Stocklin (Deptford, N.J./Deptford Township) led off with a single and stole second. Following two straight outs, Jenna Lipowski (Nanticoke, Pa./Greater Nanticoke Area) and Brianna Hughes (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland) walked to load the bases for Harvat.
 
Kate Ostaszewski (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) recorded her first homerun of the season in the bottom of the fourth inning, a solo shot to right center that gave KU a 6-2 advantage. Hughes walked with the bases loaded in the second, earning an RBI that extended the lead to 5-0 at the time.
 
Lenoir-Rhyne chipped away with a run in the fifth and then two in the seventh before Bailey closed it out.
 
Kutztown has 11 days off before its next game when it takes on Wingate University for two games on Thursday, March 10, before its 12-game, six-day stay in Florida for spring break.

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