KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University baseball team lost both games in the first day of a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division series against Mansfield University Friday at North Campus Field. The Golden Bears offense could not keep up with the Mountaineer offense who scored 30 runs on the day, falling 18-14 in game one and 12-7 in game two.
 
The cold weather and windy conditions made for a poor defensive day, with tons of hitting on both sides as well as a handful of errors for both teams.
 
Mansfield 18, Kutztown 14
 
In the top of the first the Mountaineers would score first on a solo shot to left center and never look back, no matter what the Golden Bears offensive efforts were. In the top of the second Mansfield would extend its lead to 4-0 scoring three runs on three hits.
 
In the top half of the third MU continued to score bringing three more runs across the plate and taking a 7-0 lead. It would take until the bottom of the third for Kutztown's offense to get rolling. With two outs in the inning, Gavin Moretski (Harleysville, Pa./La Salle College H.S.) would reach base on a walk. After a Collin Bishop (Laurel Springs, N.J./Highland Regional) single, the pair would both advance two bases on two wild pitches, scoring Moretski and moving Bishop to third. Andy Blum (Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts) would hit in Bishop and reach safely after a fielding error by the first basemen.
 
Mansfield would bring another run across the plate in the top of the fourth with a single and some crafty base running with men on first and third. In the bottom half of the inning, Mitchell Peers (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown) led off the inning with his fourth homerun of the season making the game 8-3. After two singles and a hit by pitch, the bases were loaded for the Golden Bears with no outs. KU would manage to score two more runs in the inning, one a fielder's choice, the other would come in to score on a single to left field by Bishop.
 
The Mountaineer offense could not be stopped, scoring four more runs in the top of the fifth inning on only two hits along with two errors by the Golden Bear defense. The Maroon and Gold would answer with a four-run inning of their own in the bottom of the fifth. With men on first and second the Bears would score their first run of the inning on an error advancing the other runner to third. Ethan Martini (Feasterville-Trevose, Pa./Father Judge) would ground out to first base after a long battle at the plate where he saw 10 pitches, but would bring the runner in from third. G. Moretski would cap off the scoring in the inning hitting a two-run blast to left center bringing the Golden Bears within three.
 
Not to be out done, Mansfield would answer with a three-run homerun of their own in the top of the sixth inning extending its lead to six. Kutztown would score three more runs in the bottom of the sixth. With the bases loaded, Jacoby Pate (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Township) would hit a two RBI double down the right field line, and Martini would ground out to first again but scoring the runner from third.
 
In the top of the seventh the Mountaineers would once again score three more runs on two hits and two KU errors. The Golden Bears would be unable to overcome the six-run deficit, scoring two runs in the inning on a single to right center by Zach Moretski (Harleysville, Pa./La Salle College H.S.).
 
Dominic Poietto took the loss for Kutztown moving to 0-3 on the year, Hunter Deprimo gets his second win of the year moving to 2-2.
 
Mansfield 12, Kutztown 7
 
Mansfield would jump out to another early lead scoring two in the top-half of the first. Kutztown would erase its deficit early scoring five runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Martini would get the ball rolling with a double to left center and would more to third on a single by G. Moretski. Antonio Rossillo (Warrington, Pa./Archbishop Wood) would reach base safely after an error by the shortstop, scoring Martini and advancing Morestki to third. Blum would double over the centerfielder's head, scoring one and advancing Rossillo to third. After a walk the bases would be loaded for Peers to hit a bases clearing double to left center.
 
After a clean top of the second inning, G. Moretski would lead off the bottom of the second with his second homerun of the year. The Golden Bears would then have a 6-2 lead.
 
The Mountaineers would score one run in the top of the third, with two outs in the inning as Zachary Shertzer would reach first after walking, eventually steal second and move up to third on a wild pitch. Ultimately to be hit in by a single to left field by Dylan Mercedes.
 
In the bottom of the third Kutztown would score one more run on a long homerun by Proietto for his third of the year.
 
After a clean fourth inning by both sides, Mansfield would score one run in the top of the fifth, after the leadoff batter reached on an error, he would come around to score on a double down the left field line.
 
Neither team would score in the sixth inning, but the Mansfield offense would take the lead in the top of the seventh scoring eight runs in the inning on five hits, two of which were homeruns, taking a 12-7 lead. The Golden Bears would be retired in order in the bottom half of the inning.
 
Justin Marykwas gets credited for his first win of the season for the Mountaineers, and Jack Skrocki would take the loss for Kutztown moving to 1-2 on the year.