Softball: Kratzer Leads Offense Final Day of Myrtle Tournament

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Freshman Katie Kratzer (Selinsgrove) totaled three hits including a two-run home run as the Pennsylvania College of Technology softball team went 1-1 on its final day at the Snowbird Softball Tournament in Myrtle, Beach, S.C. The Lady Wildcats won a tight 8-7 against Gordon College but lost in extra innings 5-4 to SUNY IT. With the split, they finish the tournament 2-6.   

Down 1-0 in the second against Gordon, Penn College put up three runs including RBI hits from sophomore Casey Davis (New Albany) and freshman Samantha Hill (Montgomery). Davis ended the game 2 for 4 with two runs on top of the RBI.   

After Gordon tied it up in the top of the third, the Lady Wildcats put two more on the board in the bottom of the inning when Kratzer hit a two-run bomb over the left center fence making it 5-3.

With the game again tied in the fifth, Penn College plated two to take the lead again. Hill recorded an RBI single in the inning and ended the game 2 for 3.

Gordon capitalized on an error to score two and make it seven-all going into the final inning. Lose held the team scoreless in the top and got the run she needed later in the bottom when freshman Rachael Shaeffer (Hampstead, Md.) doubled scoring sophomore Stephanie Koleno (Moshannon) who doubled to start off the inning.

Koleno finished the game 3 for 4. Junior Lady Lose (Avis) recorded the win going seven strong with 10 strikeouts, 11 hits and four earned runs. The Lady Wildcats committed four errors in the game.

Against SUNY IT, Penn College sprinkled four runs in the first six innings off of RBI singles from sophomore Stephanie Keifrider (Douglassville) and freshmen Nicole Lo Furno (Glen Mills), Shaeffer and Kratzer.

Lose pitched the first five innings giving up three earned runs off of three hits while striking out five. Freshman Kimberly Walter (Beavertown) finished the final three innings allowing an earned run while striking out two.

Tied at four in the eighth, the game went to international tiebreaker rules which put a runner on second. SUNY IT was able to manufacture the run after sacrifice bunting and then driving the run in with a single. The Lady Wildcats were answerless in the bottom with Lo Furno, who started at second, being thrown out at third on a fielder's choice.

In the game, Kratzer was 2 for four with a double while Keifrider was 2 for 3.

Penn College travels back north and will host Elmira College on Tuesday, Mar. 19 for a 2 p.m. doubleheader.