The Point Park softball team had its first trip to Kentucky and came back with mixed results, winning two of its four games.The trip marked the debut of conference games as members of the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC).“It felt good to finally be on the dirt again after a couple weeks of being back in Green Tree and getting used to playing on dirt and not turf,” said senior infielder Olivia Sorce in a phone interview Sunday.Last week started once again with rain and doubleheaders at Malone University. The last two home games of the month against University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg were postponed.“The weather isn’t allowing us to get into a rhythm,” said head coach Michelle Coultas in a phone interview Sunday. “I know the other teams are facing the same issues so it’s not just us.”Last Thursday, the team went by bus to New Albany, Ind. where it met Indiana University Southeast the next day. The games would pit the two teams predicted to finish atop the KIAC at the beginning of the season.The Pioneers had a 1-0 and 2-1 lead in the first game, but ultimately three errors cost the team, and the Grenadiers scored two-runs in the fourth and fifth innings en route to a 5-3 victory.In the second game, the Pioneers had another three errors, two of which came in a two- run fourth inning. Point Park lost the game 5-4.The team had six errors in two games, and Sorce knows it has to change.“I just think it’s from rushing to make the plays and not taking that extra second to set yourself and make the play,” Sorce said. “Sometimes we tend to rush into the next part of the play before we complete the first part which causes a throwing error or not fielding the ball cleanly.”Coultas cites miscues and facing a tough IU Southeast team after not playing for two weeks for the errors.“It was a combination of things plus the pressure of our first conference games against a good team,” Coultas said. “IU is well disciplined at the plate, they have good power but without errors, we win those games.”Point Park had two more games the next day when they faced Brescia University.Needing a win, Coultas turned to senior Kristen Zelenka to pitch her second game of the trip.“Coming off the loss the day before against IU Southeast, I was more determined to make a statement and get the win,” said Zelenka in a phone interview Sunday.Following a double to open the game, Zelenka settled down and retired the last 17 hitters she faced while throwing a complete game one-hit shutout.The lone run came in a three hit fifth inning. There, junior first baseman Courtney Manovich batted in senior outfielder Amanda Ardinger. The Pioneers also had no errors which helped out Zelenka.“Everyone has to bring their A game if we want to win,” Zelenka said. “We win and lose as a team. Having an error-free defense makes a world of difference. Knowing my teammates have my back gives me more confidence and determination to succeed.”In the final game of the trip, Point Park won 3-0 behind another strong pitching performance.Sophomore Kate Reese got the ball and threw a complete game allowing just two hits and no walks. The Pioneers took the lead with four singles in the fourth. The last one from sophomore catcher Lauren Fevola brought in a run. The last two runs came in the fifth inning when junior infielder Ashley Morran smacked a triple scoring Ardinger. Morran then scored herself on a wild pitch.Following a disappointing day on Friday, Coultas was happy to come away from the first Kentucky trip with two wins and strong pitching performances from Zelenka and Reese.“They pitched very well,” Coultas said. “They both controlled the game and the defense supported them. Even though we didn’t hit as well as I would have liked, we played like a team and got the timely hits to score.”The team was scheduled to play games Tuesday at Gannon University and Wednesday at Penn State New Kensington, but bad weather forced those games to be cancelled. This weekend the team will travel once again to Kentucky where it will face Alice Lloyd College and Berea College.Sorce believes the two wins against Brescia helped the team’s confidence grow and think that it now has some momentum.“As long as we work on fundamentals and the little things, we will be all right,” Sorce said. “To win we just need to play our game and play one inning at a time while focusing on the play that is happening.”