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KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University baseball team looks to continue its turnaround 2018 campaign in its final Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) series of the regular season, taking on the Shippensburg University Raiders in a four-game set on May 4-5 with its playoff aspirations on the line. First pitches from North Campus Field on Friday and SU's Fairchild Field on Saturday will both be at 1 p.m.

Sitting in fourth-place in the PSAC's Eastern Division, head coach Chris Blum and the Golden Bears (19-17, 12-11) understand the task in front of them. Win the series over Shippensburg and, barring a Lock Haven sweep of East Stroudsburg, you're in the PSAC Playoffs for the first time since 2014. KU sits 1.5 games up on both Lock Haven and Shippensburg and 2.5 games clear of ESU headed into the final weekend of the regular season. Above Kutztown, Bloomsburg, West Chester and Millersville are all tied for the top-spot in a highly-competitive Eastern Division.

While this season has already been a landmark one for the Maroon and Gold, winning their first PSAC series since 2014 last weekend over Mansfield, this group has been characterized by its attitude of wanting more and refusing to give in. Embracing its 'Why Not Us?' mantra from the outset, KU has won five games over nationally-ranked opponents this season and achieved a split or better in 5-of-6 conference series.

After losing 14 games last season by two runs or less, Kutztown has flipped the script, winning 10 of its 19 games by two runs or less in 2018. Additionally, the 'cardiac kids' have put together eight comeback victories and won three games in the final inning.

Much of this has been led by an outstanding veteran group, which features nine seniors and eight juniors, whose focus, leadership and on-field play have made this a special season. Despite its success, this team has some unfinished business, of which it hopes to take care of this weekend against Shippensburg.

Offensively, junior Nick Lafferty (Croydon, Pa./Archbishop Wood) and senior Ryan Cox (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell (St. Bonaventure)) have manned the middle of the lineup for the much of the year, holding averages of .387 and .374, respectively, of which rank first and second on KU. Lafferty and Cox have combined for 68 RBI and 89 hits, 18 of which have gone for extra bases. Tanner Miller (Elizabethville, Pa./Upper Dauphin Area), batting .346, has also been an offensive catalyst of late, riding a four-game hit streak and five-game RBI streak.

Michael Hunter (Mertztown, Pa./Brandywine Heights (Marist)) and Mike Kammerer (Allentown, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) have both been solid on the mound for Kutztown with the Golden Bears holding a combined 12-3 record in games they have started. Hunter's 3.18 ERA and 5-2 record are both tops on the team with opponents' batting just .221 against the junior from Mertztown.

Gavilan Fogarty-Harnish (Ephrata, Pa./Ephrata), who notched two wins in relief on April 27 against Mansfield, is rounding into form as KU's top option out of the bullpen. The sophomore, Ephrata-native has given up just one earned run in his last five appearances, registering two saves and two wins in 7.0 innings of work.

Shippensburg has fallen on tough times of late, losing four of its last five games, including dropping 3-of-4 to ESU last weekend. The Raiders are just 5-11 on the road this season and, being 1.5 games back of KU and tied with LHU, must win this series to have a chance at the playoffs.

Offensively, Dalton Hoiles is the big bat in the middle of the Raider order, having totaled 19 doubles and 10 home runs on the season, which rank first and second in the PSAC, respectively. Drew Bene, batting .359, has also been an integral part of the Shippensburg offense, registering 51 hits and 11 doubles.

On the bump, SU boasts a strong one-two punch with Zack Sims and Gabe Mosser, whom have made a combined 20 starts and have a 14-7 combined record. Sims' 2.55 ERA ranks fourth in the PSAC among starting pitchers and Sims and Mosser's 78 and 77 strikeouts rank second and third in the conference.

Despite its recent struggles, Shippensburg is a sound team overall and one which KU knows it must play its best baseball against to claim a series victory. Whether it has been late-inning heroics or finding ways to win against perceived better competition, Kutztown has thrived under pressure.

It will need the same composure and fight it has shown all year, combined with good pitching, timely hitting and sound defense, to achieve its goal of making the postseason. KU has not wavered in its self-belief all year and this continued belief will need to be the driving force in this weekend's series.

Live stats will be available via the links above, which can also be accessed on www.kubears.com.