PEMBROKE – Despite an attempted comeback in the fourth inning by the UNCP softball team, the Kutztown Golden Bears held on to the lead with the all six runs scored in the third inning to take away the 6-4 victory over the Lady Braves on the first day of the UNCP Invitational at LRA Field.

Both UNCP (3-5) and Kutztown (2-0) posted seven hits apiece as freshman Sequoia Barrett collected an RBI and hit for the Lady Braves. The Golden Bears were led by Morgan Booth with two hits, while Nicole Henninger notched a team best three RBI with a homer over the centerfield wall.

Newcomer Katy Austin (0-1) made her debut in the middle for UNCP and went 2-1/3 innings as she gave up five runs (four earned) on four hits before being relieved by junior Natalie Klemann for the final 4-2/3 innings. Klemann allowed three hits and the final run of the game. Mary Kociencki spent all seven innings in the circle for Kutztown and gave up seven hits, four runs (one earned) and two walks, while also striking out one.

Kutztown totaled four hits including two homeruns in the third inning to go up 6-0 on the Black and Gold. Henninger quickly increased the lead by five runs as she homer with runners on two bases. Just two at-bats later, Colleen Smith homered over the right field wall to post the final run.

Shelby Holland started the momentum in the fourth inning as she singled through the left side with two outs. Sophomore Karlee Wilson moved Holland to third on her double to left center field before catcher Brea Hartley tagged first and scored Holland and Karlee Wilson on a throwing error by the third baseman. First baseman Megan Hillard used her at-bat to send Hartley home and bring the Black and Gold to within three runs.

Again in the sixth, the Lady Braves continued with the attempted comeback as Hillard used a fielder's choice to make it to first and crossed home plate on the double to left center field by Sequoia Barrett but the squad was unable to post an additional two runs by the end of the seventh to suffer its second loss of the day.

The Lady Braves will continue on Saturday in day two of the UNCP Invitational as the squad faces Kutztown (2-0) at 12:30 p.m. and Concord (2-4) at 4:30 p.m. at LRA Field.