PEMBROKE, N.C. – No. 15 Kutztown softball picked up right where it left off in 2022, getting right to business. KU opened the 2023 regular season with a 9-1 victory in five innings over West Virginia State Saturday afternoon in the first game of the UNC Pembroke Invitational in Pembroke, N.C.
 
The Golden Bears (1-0 overall) were held scoreless in their first at-bats in the first inning, going down 1-2-3, but the bats woke up in a big way from there on out as the Maroon and Gold erupted for nine runs on 11 hits in four innings to finish the game in quick fashion.
 
Brianna Stocklin (Deptford, N.J./Deptford Township) recorded her first career home run to break a 1-1 tie in the top of the third inning. The Yellow Jackets took the early lead in their first at-bats in the bottom of the first and then KU got on the scoreboard as Brianna Hughes (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland) stole home.
 
Kutztown had a four-run, third inning. Sarah Harvey (Swanton, Vt./Missisquoi Valley Union), who earned the victory inside the circle, helped herself out at the plate, ripping an RBI double, her first of two hits on the day. Hannah Reimel (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent) had an RBI, sacrifice fly and Kristin Geesey (Bainbridge, Pa./Elizabethtown) connected for a run-scoring single to cap the inning.
 
Sarah Harvat (Bangor, Pa./Bangor) finished with two hits and Naya Darnowski (Manchester, N.J./Manchester Township) added one. Sophia Collins (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) also recorded an RBI on a sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth inning.
 
Kutztown will meet West Virginia State once again tomorrow, Sunday, Feb. 5, at noon. KU will then take on Tusculum at 2:30 p.m.

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