LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Kutztown University baseball team experienced a tough setback in its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) doubleheader matchup, as it fell to Lock Haven University in 2-1 and 10-1 decisions at Foundation Field Sunday afternoon.
 
After starting the day neck-and-neck with 2.5 innings of scoreless play, two RBI in the bottom of the third allowed LHU to pull away and cap the bottom of the third with a 2-0 advantage.
 
Zach Schram (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North (Mercer County C.C.)) put the Golden Bears (11-11, 2-4 PSAC) on the board in the top of the fifth inning, avoiding a game-one sweep. After advancing to scoring position on a passed ball, Derian Sarlat (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township)'s RBI triple out to left field allowed Schram to score KU's sole run of game one, reducing LHU's advantage to one in the top of the fifth inning, 2-1.
 
Despite the Maroon and Gold's effort to close the early deficit set by LHU, Lock Haven's defense proved successful in keeping Kutztown scoreless for the rest of the game.
 
Anthony Atticks (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Township (Harford C.C.)) threw five innings of the opening game, allowing two runs off of seven hits, while striking out six LHU batters.
 
Kutztown continued to face fierce competition in the nightcap, as Lock Haven jumped to an 8-0 lead after just three innings of play.
 
LHU jumped to an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second off of three RBI, with just one of those three runs earned.
 
The Lock Haven pitching staff closed the third with a 1-2-3 inning, allowing the Bald Eagles to quickly return and add five runs in the third. A Kutztown fielding error allowed Lock Haven to notch two additional runs and cap the bottom half of the frame with an 8-0 lead over the Golden Bears.
 
After three full innings of scoreless play for Kutztown, Alec O'Dell (Edgewood, Md./West Chester Bayard Rustin (Harford C.C.)) singled to center field, allowing freshman Collin Bishop (Laurel Springs, N.J./Highland Regional) to put KU on the board with one run in the top of the fourth.
 
Unfortunately, LHU ensured a doubleheader sweep in the bottom of the fifth inning, as a two-RBI single to left field earned two additional runs to take a 10-1 lead.
 
Bishop and Schram were Saturday's leaders for the Golden Bears, each with one hit and one run.
 
Both Keyshawn D'Orso and Evan McFarland led Lock Haven (15-5, 4-2 PSAC) with three runs on the day. Justin Sleigh contributed two runs on the afternoon.
 
The Golden Bears return home tomorrow, Monday, April 3, to once again face off against Lock Haven in a doubleheader. Game one is set to begin at North Campus Field at 1 p.m.