Live Stats (Friday) | Live Stats (Saturday)
 
KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Fresh off securing head coach Chris Blum's 200th career Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) victory, the fifth-place Kutztown University baseball team turns its attention to a pivotal four-game series with sixth-place East Stroudsburg University on April 13-14. First pitch from North Campus Field on Friday and Mitterling Field on Saturday is scheduled for 1 p.m. 
 
In securing its manager's 200th career conference victory over Bloomsburg on Wednesday, Kutztown (11-11, 5-7 PSAC) won its fifth conference game of the season, equaling its win total from 2017 with 16 PSAC games remaining. 
 
KU's improved start thus far has been fueled by solid starting pitching, patience at the plate and a bit of a power surge. Michael Hunter (Mertztown, Pa./Brandywine Heights (Marist)), whom was recently named the PSAC Eastern Division's Pitcher of the Week, has paced the KU staff with a 4-0 record and minuscule 1.44 ERA, third in PSAC among starting pitchers, in 25.0 innings pitched. Mike Kammerer (Allentown, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) (3-2) has also been effective for the Golden Bears, especially in his last two starts combining for 14.0 innings pitched and ten strikeouts, surrendering just five earned runs. 
 
Gavilan Fogarty-Harnish (Ephrata, Pa./Ephrata) (2-1) continues as the do-it-all guy for the Maroon and Gold, having made three starts this season, but also collecting a team-high three saves. With the Golden Bears short on pitching, Fogarty-Harnish was excellent in KU's win over Bloomsburg, going 3.0 innings and allowing a lone earned run while striking out four. 
 
At the plate, Ryan Cox (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell (St. Bonaventure)) has now reached based in 23 consecutive games dating back to last season. Cox is batting .364 on the season with 29 hits and 20 RBI, tied with Nick Lafferty (Croydon, Pa./Archbishop Wood) for tops on KU. Lafferty's team-high .414 batting average ranks eighth in the PSAC and the Croydon native has registered six multi-hit games in 2018. Bo Rottet (Tamaqua, Pa./Tamaqua) has a team-high nine multi-hit games of his own and his .368 average ranks second on the team. Rottet has also scored a team-high 20 runs, lately batting in the leadoff role.
 
The recent power surge can largely be attributed to Dariel Richardson (Reading, Pa./Reading) (4) and Zack Delp (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall) (2), whom have combined for six of the team's eight home runs. Richardson and Delp both went deep against Bloomsburg, accounting for a combined three-RBI in the 6-4 victory. 
 
East Stroudsburg (15-12, 4-6) and KU are neck-and-neck in the current PSAC Eastern Division standings, meaning this weekend is a pivotal matchup for two sides knocking on the door of that top-four playoff spot. In recent history, the Warriors have gotten the best of KU, winning 10 of the last 12 PSAC matchups with Kutztown's last series win over ESU coming in 2014. ESU's offensive catalyst Christian Rishel, whose .424 average is sixth in the conference, has collected a total of 28 hits, six doubles and three home runs with 22 RBI. 
 
In PSAC play this season, ESU took 3-of-4 to begin the season from last-place Mansfield, but has fallen on hard times since then, dropping two to West Chester and most recently losing 3-of-4 to Bloomsburg. With two more games against WCU and full series with both Millersville and Lock Haven remaining on their schedule, the Warriors know the importance of this weekend's tilts with the Golden Bears.
 
For KU, an advantage could be found in the starting pitching department as ESU has struggled in that area this season. Connor Johnson holds the Warriors' lowest-ERA among starters with more than two games started at 3.93 with Evan Steele and Carson Freeman ESU's next two options holding a 5.65 and 6.23 ERA, respectively. An interesting dynamic exists, however, for this Warrior team as its long-relief pitchers have been outstanding. 
 
Nate Fiala (4-0) has made 12 appearances in relief, pitching a total of 23.1 innings and giving up just six earned runs while striking out 25. Mike Pepio (1-2) has also been solid in a relief role, holding a 3.16 ERA in 12 appearances and 25.2 innings. 
 
The Golden Bears would be prudent then in getting to the ESU pitching staff early on, taking advantage of the struggles which its starting pitching has experienced before the bullpen is called upon. KU's offense has gotten off to a fast start of late, plating a combined 10 first-inning runs in its last 10 games. If this trend continues, look for Kutztown to have success against ESU and continue to climb the table in the PSAC Eastern Division as it makes its push for the PSAC Tournament. 
 
Live stats will be available via the links above, which can also be accessed on www.kubears.com.