PEMBROKE, N.C. – The Kutztown University softball team finished off opening day of its 2022 regular season on a high note, shutting out West Virginia State 9-0, following a close, two-run defeat (9-7) to host UNC Pembroke on Sunday afternoon in Pembroke, N.C.
 
The Golden Bears (1-1 overall) began their season two days later than originally anticipated, as the season opener planned for Friday, Feb. 4, was pushed back.
 
The KU bats combined to manufacture 16 runs in the doubleheader, highlighted by a nine-run, five-inning shutout to conclude the day Sunday. There were seven extra-base hits, including a homerun by Hannah Reimel (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent), a triple by Brianna Stocklin (Deptford, N.J./Deptford Township) and doubles from Reimel, Zoe Texidor (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township), Hannah Auvil (Baltimore, Md./Sparrows Point), Kate Ostaszewski (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) and Naya Darnowski (Manchester, N.J./Manchester Township).
 
Kutztown will play the same two teams tomorrow, Monday, Feb. 7, with UNC Pembroke at 10 a.m., followed by West Virginia State at 12:30 p.m.
 
UNC Pembroke 9, Kutztown 7
 
The first game of the year for both teams did not show any type of rust, at least from the bats. The two teams combined for 16 runs and 24 hits.
 
Kutztown scored twice in its first go-around in the lineup, as Stocklin broke onto the college scene with a bang. The freshman center fielder tripled to left field and then came around to score on an Ostaszewski double as KU's bats produced back-to-back extra-base hits at the top of the order. Auvil then reached safely on a bunt for a single and later stole home two batters later to give the Maroon and Gold an early 2-0 lead.
 
They tacked on another run in the top of the third. Ostaszewski created the whole thing, singling to lead off and then stole second and ran all the way home following an errant throw that went into the outfield.
 
The Bravehawks answered with a four-run bottom of the third and a three-run fifth to go ahead 7-3.
 
Kutztown would tie it in the sixth with four runs, highlighted by RBIs from Sarah Harvey (Swanton, Vt./Missisquoi Valley Union), Ostaszewski and Auvil. But UNC Pembroke had a one out rally in the bottom-half of the inning, putting runners on second and third. A single up the middle brought them both home to secure the victory.
 
Kutztown 9, West Virginia State 0 (5)
 
It didn't take long for the Golden Bears to bounce back, as they did all of their scoring in the first three innings, including a six-run bottom of the second.
 
In the first, Stocklin reached base safely on a fielding error by the Yellow Jackets second baseman. She then stole second and stole third and the throw going to third sailed into the outfield and she came around to score the game's first run.
 
The next inning, Kutztown batted around, sending 10 to the plate. Reimel got things going with a homerun to lead off the frame and capped the spurt with a two-run double. A walk by Brianna Hughes (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland) and two wild pitches were sandwiched in between for the six-run inning.
 
In the third, Texidor led off with a double and came around to touch home on a throwing error the next batter. Ostaszewski singled home Stocklin two batters later for the game's final run.
 
Bridget Bailey (Norwood, Pa./Interboro) earned the victory inside the circle, throwing five innings, allowing just two hits, while striking out 11.