LYNDHURST, N.J. – The Felician University softball team dropped both ends of its non-conference doubleheader to visiting Kutztown University, 5-0 and 6-3, on Sunday afternoon at the Lyndhurst Recreation Complex. Felician (13-14) was playing its fourth home twinbill in the last seven days.

In Game 1, the Golden Falcons fell victim to a three-hit shutout by Kutztown senior right-hander Savannah Nierintz (Clifton Heights, Pa./Upper Darby). In a 110-pitch effort, Nierintz (10-1) struck out five batters and walked four. She was staked to an early lead when Golden Bear junior Gabby Tareila (Limerick, Pa./Spring-Ford) hit a two-run home run with two outs in the top of the first inning.

The blast was the only damage done to the pitching line of Felician junior righty Ashley Owens (Lockport, N.Y./Starpoint) (9-7). Kutztown leadoff hitter Sara Keeny (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent) created a run off the Felician bullpen in the fifth when she reached on a bunt single, stole second base, was sacrificed to third, and scored on Tamara Jennings's (Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy) hit.

The Golden Bears (15-8) capped the scoring in the seventh when Bridget Newman's (Ardmore, Pa./Haverford) fly ball was lost in the sun for a two-run single.

Felician had a runner on base in every inning off of Nierintz, including its first two in the first, and left all eight stranded. Sophomore shortstop Zeaenna Brackett (Woodbury, N.J./Woodbury) was 2 for 4 and classmate Brynne Bauman (Hazlet, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) picked up the only other hit for the Golden Falcons.

A two-run triple by Kutztown freshman Adrianna Dilal (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) in the top of the fifth inning broke a 3-3 tie and made herself the winning pitcher in relief. Dilal (3-3) allowed four hits in 2 2/3 scoreless frames, and Nierintz came on to retire Felician's last five hitters and earn her second save of the season.

The Golden Falcons had battled back from a 3-0 deficit to knot the score with three runs in the bottom of the third. With two runners on and two outs, Mia Montoya (Cypress, Calif./John F. Kennedy) sent a two-run double to right field. Two batters later, Jackie Duenas (Riverside, Calif./Arlington) plated Montoya with another double.

Kutztown, which stole seven bases in the game, out-hit the Golden Falcons, 14-7. Keeny had a hit and two walks, stole three bags and scored three runs from the top spot in the order.