FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Kutztown softball finished up its eight games in four days spring break trip in Florida with two games at Nova Southeastern Thursday afternoon. KU fell in both games, losing 1-0 in game one and 5-0 in game two.
 
The Golden Bears (12-7 overall) 3-5 in the eight games, also defeating Mount Olive last Thursday on their way down to the sunshine state.
 
Emily Henn (Matamoras, Pa./Delaware Valley) had a three-hit day to lead the lineup. Morgan Slomkowski (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East) and Hannah Reimel (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent) both finished with two hits on the day.
 
That is it for the non-conference portion of the schedule for Kutztown. KU will now shift its gears into Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference play with its next gameday on Tuesday, March 19, at nationally-ranked East Stroudsburg, beginning at 1 p.m.
 
Nova Southeastern 1, Kutztown 0
 
Kutztown finished with a 6-2 advantage in hits, but where it mattered most, on the scoreboard, Nova Southeastern had the advantage, scoring its run in the bottom of the fifth inning on a two-out, RBI triple. Outside of that hit, Natelee Harvey had another outstanding start inside the circle, throwing all six innings, allowing just two hits and the earned run.
 
Henn and Reimel both recorded two hits to lead the lineup. Brianan Stocklin and Alexa Stevens (Covington Township, Pa./North Pocono) each had one.
 
KU had a chance at scoring the game's first run in the top of the first with two hits in the first three batters. Stocklin beat out a leadoff single to the pitcher and tried to score two batters later on a base hit by Henn, but the junior was caught in a run down between third and home.
 
The Golden Bears had a runner in scoring position at second base in both the fourth and fifth innings, but could not get her home either time. In the top of the seventh, Kutztown had another chance at tying the game or even taking the lead as Stevens doubled with one out. Two batters later, Reimel singled to left field, but a Sharks throw home caught Stevens before she could safely reach for the third out and the end of the game.
 
Nova Southeastern 5, Kutztown 0
 
The teams had two scoreless innings to begin the game, but then Nova Southeastern had, what proved to be a back-breaking, three-run third inning where it brought seven batters to the plate.
 
The Sharks then added a run in both the fifth and sixth innings for insurance.
 
Kutztown couldn't get much going in this one. KU didn't have a runner past first base until it put the first two on safely in the top of the seventh with back-to-back singles by Henn and Slomkowski, but the Sharks recorded three straight outs to end the game.

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