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KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University baseball team hits the road Friday, March 24, to open its first day of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division contention with a doubleheader against No. 6 Millersville University, beginning at 1 p.m. at Cooper Park.
 
The Golden Bears (9-7) return to the field after opening their season with three weeks of out-of-state play. Kutztown's season began with an impressive performance at the Builder Invitational in Newport News, Va. the weekend of Feb. 23.
 
Day one of competition began with a commanding 11-6 victory over Indiana University (PA). Eight runs crammed into the first three innings of regulation, sparked by a two-RBI double from Alec O'Dell (Edgewood, Md./West Chester Bayard Rustin (Harford C.C.)) in the bottom of the first, allowed the Maroon and Gold to take a comfortable lead over its opponent early in the matchup.
 
Pitcher Mike Kammerer (Allentown, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) had a successful opening day on the mound, as he struck out a career-high 12-of-18 batters in five innings, while allowing two hits, one walk and one run – none earned.
 
The Golden Bears continued that momentum to open day two of the tournament with a 7-0 shutout over Newport News Apprentice School, as the KU pitching staff allowed a runner to reach scoring position in only one inning.
 
Day three brought about KU's first loss of the season as it encountered tough competition in a 17-11 defeat from Bloomsburg. That loss did not slow down the Golden Bears, as they rallied to defeat Newport News a second time, 4-3, before avenging that loss in a 16-15 comeback victory over Bloomsburg in the final day of competition, to cap the weekend with a 4-1 record.
 
Next came a series against Slippery Rock in Bel Air, Md., where the Golden Bears went 2-for-3, racking up their second loss of the season. Down by one after six innings of scoreless play, Kutztown notched four runs in the top of the seventh to take game one.
 
Despite dropping game one of a doubleheader after four late runs from Slippery Rock, Kutztown returned with four late runs in the nightcap to avoid a doubleheader sweep and split the final day of competition.
 
The second game of the doubleheader brought about Doug Conrad (West Chester, Pa./Downingtown West (Clarion))'s first victory of the season, as he struck out five with no walks in his 4.1 innings of relief pitching.
 
Most recently, the Maroon and Gold headed to Wilson, N.C. for seven games over spring break, where they capped the week with a 2-7 record.
 
KU opened the week with a dominating 9-1 victory over Fairmont State on March 10, after a noteworthy six-run fifth-inning campaign, sparked by an RBI-single from Ryan Cox (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell (St. Bonaventure)) to drive Bo Rottet (Tamaqua, Pa./Tamaqua) home. Two additional insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings cemented the KU win.
 
Unfortunately, Kutztown dropped its next three matchups, before returning to the win column with a victory against Clarion on March 13, 9-1. Josh Houser (New Freedom, Pa./Susquehannock (Harford C.C.)) struck out eight in his seven innings of one-run ball, while KU jammed eight late runs into the bottom of the seventh to take the lead.
 
KU closed the Builder Invitational after dropping a close game one of a doubleheader sweep in extra innings to Barton, 9-8. The nightcap brought about a second KU loss, 7-6.
 
The Maroon and Gold are led by Rottet with a .333 batting average out of 17 games played this season. He also has 14 runs off 21 hits. Joe Santospago (Doylestown, Pa./Archbishop Wood (Mercer County C.C.)) has also been a key contributor for KU with a .340 average over 16 games, racking up 18 hits, 13 runs and 20 RBI.
 
The Golden Bears were swept by Millersville in 2016.
 
Millersville is led by Chas McCormick, posting a .414 batting average with 29 hits and 16 runs. Dan Neff is also a leader for the Marauders with 26 hits, 20 runs and a .361 batting average.
 
After Friday's doubleheader, the Golden Bears play at home to once again face Millersville for a doubleheader on Monday, March 27, with game one set for 1 p.m. at North Campus Field.