MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – Taylor Gearhart (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North) and Emily Henn (Matamoras, Pa./Delaware Valley) both connected on three-run home runs to pace Kutztown to a 10-7 win over Barry in game one, but the host Bucs responded with an 8-0 victory in five innings in game two as the teams split the Monday afternoon doubleheader in Miami Shores, Fla.
 
The Golden Bears (7-9 overall) finish their southern trip, which started in Barton, N.C., on Monday, March 2, and ended a week later, 4-6, with 10 games in eight days.
 
The Maroon and Gold had 14 hits on the day, 11 of which were in the opener. Henn, Ashley Schulz (Oreland, Pa./Springfield) and Morgan Slomkowski (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East) all finished with three hits in the two games, with Henn scoring a run and tallying three RBIs, Schulz scoring three times and Slomkowski adding two RBIs and two runs scored. Gearhart had two hits, both in game one, and contributed three RBIs and one run scored. Morgan Kocher (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent), Caitlin Ashley (Limerick, Pa./Spring-Ford) and Jamie Madara (Levittown, Pa./Academy of the New Church) all recorded a hit, with the latter adding an RBI and a run.
 
Inside the circle, Abbey Wagner (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown) got the start and picked up the win, throwing seven innings, while striking out three batters to even her record on the season at 2-2.
 
After a scoreless first inning between the teams, things picked up in a big way in the second, with a combined nine runs scored. In the top of the frame, Schulz led off with a double to left center field and then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Alexa Stevens (Jefferson Township, Pa./North Pocono). Following a hit by pitch to Slomkowski, a Barry strikeout had two runners on with two outs. Madara came through in the clutch with an RBI single through the left side of the infield to score Schulz for the game's opening run. The next batter, Henn delivered a shot over the left field wall for an early 4-0 advantage.
 
The Bucs answered with a multi-run inning of their own in the bottom-half, as a walk, two singles and a double pushed five runs home and gave the home team their first lead of the game at 5-4.
 
But from that point on, KU began to keep adding on runs, with two in the third, one in the fourth and then three insurance runs in the sixth, on Gearhart's first career home run. Slomkowski doubled in two runs in the top of the third to give her team back the lead. Stevens had an RBI sacrifice fly in the fourth to score Ashley.
 
Ahead 10-5 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Barry brought seven batters to the plate and scored two runs. With two on and the tying run at the plate, Wagner struck out Mya Tucker to end the game.
 
In the nightcap, the Bucs jumped out in front early and never looked back, bringing in six runs in the bottom of the first and allowed KU just three hits.
 
Kutztown makes its home debut this Saturday, March 14, for a non-conference doubleheader against Holy Family. First pitch from North Campus Field is scheduled for noon.

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