PEMBROKE, N.C. – Brianna Stocklin (Deptford, N.J./Deptford Township) went 4-for-4 at the plate for her second career four-hit game and Natalee Harvey (Swanton, Vt./Missisquoi Valley Union) threw another complete game shutout, her second in as many days, as Kutztown softball remained perfect to start the young 2024 season, beating West Virginia State 8-0 in six innings Saturday morning at the UNC Pembroke Invitational.
 
The Golden Bears (3-0 overall) have now won all three of their games at the Invitational by a combined score of 25-3.
 
The KU lineup had 12 hits on the day, led by Stocklin's four. She also had two RBIs and scored a run. Brianna Hughes (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland) also finished with multiple hits (2) and had an RBI and scored two runs. Emily Henn (Matamoras, Pa./Delaware Valley), Kristin Geesey (Bainbridge, Pa./Elizabethtown), Morgan Slomkowski (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East) and Makenna Balay (Drums, Pa./Hazleton Area) all recorded a hit and an RBI. Naya Darnowski (Manchester, N.J./Manchester Township) tallied a hit and scored a run.
 
Harvey threw six innings and struck out a career-high eight batters.
 
Kutztown concludes its time at the Pembroke Invitational with its last game, tomorrow, Sunday, Feb. 4, when it takes on Felician for the second time in three days. KU defeated the Golden Falcons in the regular season opener on Friday.
 
Kutztown 8, West Virginia State 0 (6 inn.)
 
Just like it did in the opening game the day before, Kutztown got out in front early, scoring multiple runs in the bottom of the first inning.
 
Stocklin led off with a single, and then, following a sacrifice bunt by Leanna Schenk (Roslyn, Pa./Abington) to move Stocklin to second base, the Golden Bears connected on back-to-back run-scoring doubles by Henn and Hughes to get on top 2-0. Hughes came around to score three batters later on a wild pitch for an early 3-0 lead after one.
 
For the second straight inning, KU got its leadoff on base as Darnowski singled up the middle and then stole second during the ensuing at-bat. Stocklin sent her home with an RBI double and a 4-0 advantage.
 
After two scoreless innings, the Maroon and Gold offense got going once again and had another multi-run frame, highlighted by a Slomkowski RBI double and two, run-scoring singles by Stocklin and Balay.
 
In the sixth, Geesey's double to left field brought around Hughes for the game-clinching run in the six-inning mercy rule.
 
Harvey kept the Yellow Jackets off the scoreboard all six innings and they only got passed second base in two innings as she recorded her second shutout win in as many days.

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