CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Brianna Hughes (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland) had an RBI in the top of the seventh inning, but that was the lone run that Kutztown softball would score on the day as it lost game one of the best-of-three series in Super Regionals, 5-1 Tuesday afternoon at Charleston.
 
The Golden Bears (36-24 overall) now must win both games two and three, which are scheduled to be played Wednesday at Charleston. Game two is set for 2 p.m., but weather may effect that.
 
When Kutztown won its games at regionals and the ones it won at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference tournament the week prior, KU would normally jump out in front and ride its defense and pitching to take it to the final out.
 
On Tuesday, it was the Golden Eagles (50-5) that got on the scoreboard first and held a four-run lead after just two innings. They received a stellar pitching performance from Chloe Elliott, who allowed just five hits and an earned run, striking out four. She is a perfect, 12-0 on the season.
 
Naya Darnowski (Manchester, N.J./Manchester Township) went 2-for-3 at the plate and scored the Maroon and Gold's run in the seventh. She led off the frame with a single, advanced to second after a hit by Emily Henn (Matamoras, Pa./Delaware Valley) and came home two batters later after a fielder's choice by Hughes.
 
Brianna Stocklin (Deptford, N.J./Deptford Township) and Kristin Geesey (Bainbridge, Pa./Elizabethtown) each had a hit.
 
Charleston came out firing in the bottom of the first, recording back-to-back doubles, and then following two straight outs, tallied a run-scoring single and double to go ahead 3-0 after one. The Golden Eagles then got a solo home run from leadoff hitter, Hannah Rose in the bottom of the second for a 4-0 advantage. Rose, who, along with the No. 2 hitter, Isabella Andujar, combined to go 4-for-6 with half of their team's eight hits.
 
Hannah Meyer homered in the bottom of the fourth to cap the scoring for Charleston, as it went ahead 5-0.
 
Game two is tentatively scheduled to begin at 2 p.m., tomorrow, Wednesday, May 15. Weather is expected in the area. If necessary, a game three would be played after.

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