MANSFIELD, Pa. – Most teams would feel pretty safe if its starting pitchers threw back-to-back complete games, allowing just a run apiece.
For the Kutztown University baseball team it wasn't enough as the Golden Bears fell in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) doubleheader Monday, dropping both games 1-0 to a Mansfield University pitching staff that threw back-to-back no-hitters.
With today's outcome, KU (17-19, 7-9 PSAC) and Mansfield split its season-series, 2-2. Kutztown won two home games against MU Sunday.
MU's (15-18, 5-12 PSAC) Brandon Garrett threw the no-no in game one, finishing it will 10 strikeouts and two walks. Luke Hils followed him in game two, allowing zero hits with six strikeouts and three walks. Garrett's no-hitter came just two days after his grandfather passed away.
It was the first time Kutztown was no-hit since May 16, 2003. For Mansfield, it was the first no-hitter thrown since 1997 and the first at MU's Shaute Field since 1977.
Matt Swarmer (Mohnton, Pa./Governor Mifflin) started the opener for KU and went 6.2 innings, allowing four hits and one earned run while striking out 11. He made it to the top of the seventh with two outs before MU's Zach Merkle hit an RBI-single to center field to end it.
Pat Flynn (Pottstown, Pa./West-Mont Christian Academy) followed with a complete game of his own, going six innings with five hits, one earned run and nine strikeouts. Flynn's only mistake of the day came on a second-inning home run to MU's Tanner Klein, the difference maker in MU's game two victory.
Kutztown's pitching staff combined to throw 26.2 innings of three-run baseball, allowing 18 hits while striking out 29 over the series.
The Golden Bears will look to rebound with another PSAC season-series, starting with a doubleheader against Shippensburg University on Friday, April 15 at North Campus Field. The two teams then travel to SU to finish the series on Saturday, April 16 at Fairchild Field. Both doubleheaders are scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
