WINGATE, N.C. -- Defending national champion No. 1 Wingate flexed its muscle again, Saturday, defeating the Kutztown University baseball team in both ends of a doubleheader, 17-1 and 9-4, to complete a three-game sweep of the Golden Bears at Ron Christopher Stadium.
 
GAME ONE
Wingate 17, Kutztown 1
 
Kutztown's offense was kept in check throughout by Bulldogs' starting pitcher Austin Mitchell and three relievers, and Wingate broke open a 5-1 lead with 12 runs across the sixth and seventh innings in a lopsided victory.

The Golden Bears were down just 2-1 after three innings of play, with both of Wingate's runs coming in the first inning. Following an error and an infield single to start the fourth, Kutztown had runners on first and second with one down. Freshman Jimmy Kerley (Indian Trail, N.C./Sun Valley) continued his strong start to the season with a single through the left side, plating Gavin Moretski (Harleysville, Pa./La Salle College H.S.) for KU's only run of the game. 
 
Kell Smith quickly erased any momentum the Bears hoped to gain when he blasted a three-run homer to right center for a 5-1 Wingate lead.
 
The Bulldogs finished the game with 17 runs on 14 hits, but the Golden Bears did themselves no favors with four errors. Kutztown totaled four hits, all singles. They came from four different players: Mitchell Peers (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown), Kerley, Brian Finn (Warrington, Pa./Springside Chestnut Hill Academy) and Antonio Rossillo (Warrington, Pa./Archbishop Wood).
 
Dominic Poietto took the loss by allowing five runs on six hits across 3.1 innings. He struck out seven and walked five. Mitchell scattered three hits over six innings, allowing only the unearned run in the fourth. He fanned three. Chris Macca, Jordan Pendley and Luis Fuentes combined for three scoreless innings of relief.
 
GAME TWO
Wingate 9, Kutztown 4
 
Kutztown (2-5) jumped out to the early lead when Mitchell Peers (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown) was hit by a pitch and Antonio Rossillo (Warrington, Pa./Archbishop Wood) doubled him in, all with two outs in the top of the first.
 
Unfortunately, the Maroon and Gold wouldn't hold the lead long, as the unbeaten Bulldogs (11-0) came back in the bottom half of the inning with three runs on four hits in the inning.

Andrew Motsinger led off with a triple to the gap in right center and Michael Dansky followed with a double to the same spot to tie the game. Dansky eventually scored on a wild pitch and Andrew McKay had an RBI single as the hosts grabbed a 3-1 lead.

KU starting pitcher Gavin Moretski (Harleysville, Pa./La Salle College H.S.) managed to settle in during the second inning holding Wingate scoreless. 
 
Wingate's offense alternated threes and zeros across its six innings at bat. The Bulldogs lead increased to 6-1 in the third as Ricky Clark homered and Motsinger had an RBI single.

In the top of the fourth Kutztown started to climb back into the game. After a walk and single by Joey Pettinelli (Broomall, Pa./Marple Newtown), the Bears had runners on first and second. Mike Piscotty (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./Hanover Area) came around to score from second after a Wingate error by the first baseman. 
 
Wingate pulled away with three more in the fifth inning, scoring three more runs extending their lead to 9-2. The Golden Bears fought back in the top of the sixth scoring two runs on one hit. After two walks, Mike Kelly (Schwenksville, Pa./Pope John Paul II) recorded an infield single bringing one of the two runs across.
 
Gavin Moretski (Harleysville, Pa./La Salle College H.S.) took the loss for the Golden Bears, falling to 1-1 on the season. Tyler Cleveland (Pillow, Pa./Upper Dauphin) threw a scoreless sixth out of the pen for KU, striking out two. Josh Dotson earned the victory with three strikeouts over 4.1 innings for the hosts.
 
Kutztown travels to Glenville Sate next weekend for games against the host Pioneers (Friday), Alderson Broaddus (Saturday) and Fairmont State (Sunday).
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