STROUDSBURG, Pa. – The Kutztown University baseball team split the day, Saturday, winning game one against East Stroudsburg University 6-4, but dropped the second game 5-2 in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division doubleheader at Creekview Park in Stroudsburg.
 
Game one was a close, hard fought game with multiple lead exchanges throughout. Zach Male (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford) continues to pitch well for the Maroon and Gold, throwing six strong innings for the Golden Bears (16-14 overall, 10-14 PSAC) in the win.
 
In game two, the Warriors (13-12, 11-9) benefitted from another strong pitching performance from their starter. Pitching six hitless innings, Connor Johnson threw a complete game, sealing the series split between the two teams.
 
Kutztown 6, East Stroudsburg 4
 
The Golden Bears jumped out to a two-run lead in the top of the second inning. With runners on first and second, Ethan Martini (Feasterville-Trevose, Pa./Father Judge) lined a double into the left center field gap bringing both base runners in to score.
 
Male kept the Warrior bats quiet until the bottom of the third when they scored one run on two hits in the inning. In the bottom of the fifth ESU scored two more to take the lead with three consecutive doubles.
 
In the top of the sixth, Dominic Proietto (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) led off the inning with a double down the left field line. Joey Pettinelli (Broomall, Pa./Marple Newtown) entered the game to run for Proietto and would score the tying run on a Connor Teschko (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley Regional) single to center.
 
The Golden Bears scored three more runs in top of the seventh to take the lead and extend it to 6-3. With a runner on third, Antonio Rossillo (Warrington, Pa./Archbishop Wood) singled through the left side of the infield bringing in the first run of the inning. Mitchell Peers (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown) doubled down the left field line putting base runners on second and third. Both runners would score on a single by Andy Blum (Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts) to make the game 6-3.
 
ESU scored one more run on three hits in the last inning but were held off by Jake Skrocki (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford) who would strand two runners on base.
 
Male earned his fifth win of the season, improving his record to 5-1, and Skrocki gets credited for the save. Cam Voss take the loss for East Stroudsburg now 2-2 on the season.
 
East Stroudsburg 5, Kutztown 2
 
ESU would jump out to an early lead in the bottom of the first scoring one run on two hits. Connor Johnson would have a strong outing for the Warriors and would hold the Golden Bears hitless for the first six innings.
 
East Stroudsburg would score again in the second extending the lead to three on a two-run double to left field. The Warriors would score again in the bottom of the fifth with two runs on a double followed by a single.
 
Peers would record the first hit for the Golden Bears in the top of the seventh, breaking up the no-hit bid on a single up the middle. Collin Bishop (Laurel Springs, N.J./Highland Regional) doubled over the centerfielder's head moving Peers up to third. Both would come in to score, one on a Zach Morestki ground out the other on a ground out by Rossillo.
 
Johnson would throw a complete game for East Stroudsburg, now 3-1 on the year. Gavin Moretski (Harleysville, Pa./La Salle College H.S.) takes the loss for Kutztown moving to 2-3 on the year.