FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Caitlin Ashley (Limerick, Pa./Spring-Ford) connected on a three-run home run in the first inning to propel Kutztown softball to a 4-1 victory in game two and salvage a split Sunday afternoon against Nova Southeastern in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
 
The win in the nightcap stopped a season-long four-game losing streak for the Golden Bears (6-8 overall), their longest in two seasons.
 
Ashley finished 3-for-6 on the day with three RBIs and a run scored. The long ball was her second of the season so far, tying Emily Henn (Matamoras, Pa./Delaware Valley) for the team lead. Henn was 5-for-8 with three runs scored and an RBI. The junior had three of KU's seven hits in the first game. Samantha Paetow (Fayetteville, Pa./Chambersburg) had three hits, two RBIs and one run scored. Alexa Stevens (Jefferson Township, Pa./North Pocono) recorded a hit in each game and Ashley Schulz (Oreland, Pa./Springfield) tallied a hit in game one.
 
Haley Gravish (Hamburg, Pa./Hamburg) allowed just one run, while striking out a season-best seven batters to pick up her fifth victory on the season, which leads the PSAC. She also leads the conference with 55.1 innings pitched.
 
Henn and Paetow both singled in the top of the first inning of game two before Ashley stepped up to the plate and drilled a HR to straight away center for the 3-0 lead. The Sharks (14-12) cut their deficit to 3-1 with a home run of their own, a solo shot, in the bottom of the fourth. Paetow got that run right back for her team in the top of the fifth with an RBI sacrifice fly.
 
The sophomore catcher also got the scoring going in game one as she singled up the middle, bringing around Henn for the game's first run in the top of the first inning. NSE tied the game with a long ball in the second and took the lead with two runs in the third, never relinquishing the advantage. The Maroon and Gold pulled to within just one (3-2) with a Henn RBI single down the left field line that put runners at second and third with two outs. But the Sharks stopped the rally there and held on in the end.
 
Kutztown concludes its southern trip with two games at Barry University in Miami Shores, Fla., tomorrow, Monday, March 9, with game one beginning at 1 p.m.
 

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