BENSALEM, Pa. – The 23rd-ranked Kutztown softball team was all set to try and have its home opener this Friday, but for a second time in as many weeks, conditions had other ideas, so plans changed. KU's non-conference home doubleheader with Holy Family was moved to Wednesday on the road and Kutztown continued its strong start to the 2025 regular season with a sweep of the Tigers at Bensalem High School.
 
The Golden Bears (11-0 overall) won by scores of 3-2 and 4-2 and have now won their first 11 games to open the campaign.
 
Emily Henn (Matamoras, Pa./Delaware Valley) finished 4-for-8 with two runs scored and an RBI. Morgan Slomkowski (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East) recorded three hits, four RBIs and scored a run. Both Kristin Geesey (Bainbridge, Pa./Elizabethtown) and Alexa Stevens (Covington Township, Pa./North Pocono) had two hits each with the latter scoring twice and adding an RBI.
 
Haley Gravish (Hamburg, Pa./Hamburg) threw a complete game in the opener and struck out a career-high 10 batters to improve to 6-0 on the year. Natalee Harvey (Swanton, Vt./Missisquoi Valley Union) came on in relief in game two and threw the last five innings, allowing zero runs to earn her first victory of the season.
 
Kutztown has a week off before its next game, as it will kick off its annual trip down south with a doubleheader at UNC Pembroke next Wednesday, March 5, beginning at 10 a.m.
 
Kutztown 3, Holy Family 2
 
Kutztown overcame an early two-run deficit after Holy Family scored twice in its first at-bats. A three-run, top of the third inning was all KU and Gravish needed to come away with the opening victory.
 
With one out in the inning, Jenna Piatkiewicz (Fogelsville, Pa./Parkland) singled the opposite way to right field. Brianna Stocklin (Deptford, N.J./Deptford Township) followed with a walk and then two batters later, Henn and Stevens recorded back-to-back, two-out, RBI singles to tie the score at 2-2. The Golden Bears continued to threaten in that frame as Slomkowski walked after Stevens' at-bat to load the bases and then Samantha Paetow (Fayetteville, Pa./Chambersburg) worked a walk for an RBI and what proved to be the game-winning run as Henn crossed home plate for the 3-2 advantage.
 
Gravish finished off the job as the Tigers didn't make it easy, recording at least one hit in all but one of the final five innings, but the senior pitcher remained strong, finishing with a line of seven innings, eight hits, two earned runs and a career-best 10 strikeouts.
 
Naya Darnowski (Manchester, N.J./Manchester Township) and Sarah Harvat (Bangor, Pa./Bangor) both had a hit for the Maroon and Gold.
 
Kutztown 4, Holy Family 2
 
Kutztown was the team that got on the scoreboard first in this one as a two-run first inning got things going thanks to a two-run single from Slomkowski. Holy Family would tie the game in its next at-bats with a two-run second inning.
 
But the Golden Bears and Slomkowski answered as the junior slammed a two-run home run in the third, her team-leading fifth of the season, to once again double up the Tigers and lead 4-2.
 
Harvey entered the game in the third and recorded the final 15 outs unscathed to send her team to the win. Kutztown was actually outhit 8-7, but Harvey helped keep her team in front.

  Read Full Article