Box Score 1 | Box Score 2



MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – The Kutztown University baseball team battled through some tough conditions at Marauder Park on Saturday, but was unable to rebound after a four-run fifth inning for Millersville University lifted the Marauders to a 4-2 victory in the first game of a doubleheader in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division action. KU dropped the nightcap, 3-2.

The 18th-ranked Golden Bears (20-8 overall, 8-4 PSAC East) jumped out to an early two run lead after three innings of play in the opener. Cody Montz (Schuylkill Haven, Pa./Schuylkill Haven) and Brett Hauck (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown) opened the game with back-to-back singles. After a sacrifice bunt from Shayne Houck (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown), junior catcher Matt Albaugh (Hatfield, Pa./North Penn) legged out an infield single to bring in Montz from third.

Freshman right fielder Travis Kreitz (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown) had an RBI single in the third inning to score Houck and grow the Golden Bear lead to 2-0.

Junior left hander Tom Neely (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) got his first start of the year and did a fantastic job of keeping the Marauders off the board. He ran into some trouble in the first inning, loading the bases off two walks and a hit batsman with one out. He got out of the jam by forcing Mike Perez to ground into a double play to end the inning.

Neely also got an inning-ending double play in the second inning. In his four innings on the mound, he struck out three batters and allowed three hits.

The fifth inning proved to be the difference maker in the opener. Freshman Connor Wing (West Chester, Pa./Unionville) took over for Neely in the fifth but seemed to lack control in his eighth appearance of the season. Evan King got things rolling for MU with a one out triple. He would score on a Wing wild pitch. Dan Johnson and Kurt Seiders each had RBI singles in the inning, and Johnson would score on another wild pitch for the fourth run of the inning.

Jason Long picked up the win for Millersville (16-14, 4-8) with an inning of scoreless middle relief work. KU tallied five hits off MU starter Mike McMonagle. Tyler Horst picked up his second save of the season for the Marauders.

Kutztown was one hit away from tying the game in the final inning of the nightcap. Sophomore Sean McCormick (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) came to the plate with two outs and runners on the corners. Looking for his first hit of the day, McCormick hit a rocket towards the left side. Millersville third baseman Tyler McDonald, however, made a diving play towards the hole to gather the ball, pop up and gun down McCormick to end the potential comeback.

Junior Andrew Otterberg (Wall Township, NJ/Wall Township) and Houck each homered in the second game. Otterberg's shot to left center field put the Golden Bears on the board in the second inning. It was his first home run of the season.

Millersville responded with a run in the third inning and two in the fourth to take a 3-1 advantage. Seiders had an RBI hit up the middle in third, but all three Marauder runs were unearned.

Senior right hander Trent Mertz (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown) took the hill for KU in the final game of the four-game set. He went 5.2 innings and struck out four batters while allowing eight hits on 104 pitches.

Houck brought the deficit to one with his solo shot to left field to open the sixth inning. It was his team-leading fifth home run of the year. Houck and Montz each had two hits.

Kreitz and Kyle Stoudt (Topton, Pa./Brandywine Heights) each reached base in the seventh, but MU closer Tyler Horst closed the door for the Marauders for his second save of the season.

Johnson led the Marauders with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate in the nightcap. Tim Mayza picked up the win with five innings of work on the mound.

Kutztown will look to get back in the win column on Monday, Apr. 2 against Chestnut Hill College (14-10). First pitch for the doubleheader at North Campus Field is set for 1 p.m. Live stats for Monday's game can be found by clicking here.