MURFREESBORO, N.C. -- Kutztown University baseball managed a season-opening split on Saturday, taking game two of a doubleheader at Chowan. Game one was dominated by starting pitching, as the Hawks bested the Golden Bears 3-1. Game two saw the offenses take center stage as Kutztown managed to outlast Chowan, 8-6.

GAME 1
Chowan 3, Kutztown 1

Sophomore Zach Male (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford) started the season off for the Golden Bears on the bump after a stellar 6-1 freshman campaign. Male had much of the usual success, throwing five innings in the debut, striking out seven, and not allowing a run until the top of the sixth inning when he would be relieved. 

Kutztown's bats were off to a slow start being held silent by Chowan starting pitcher Shane Radermacher. In the fourth inning the Golden Bears were able to break through and get their only run on the board. With runners on first and second, Mitchell Peers (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown) doubled to left field, knocking in Ethan Martini (Trevose, Pa./Father Judge). Radermacher was able to work his way out of the jam and leave runners stranded on second and third to end the inning. 

It would take until the sixth inning for the Hawks to get on the board, after the first two batters reached base safely Jake Skrocki (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford) came on in relief for Male. After striking out the first batter he faced, Skrocki gave up a double to left field that would bring in the two runners on base. That runner would come in to score after Chowan managed another single through the right side. 

The Golden Bears were able to stop the bleeding there but could not muster up enough offense in the top of the seventh to mount a comeback. Caleb Peterson, who came in relief for Radermacher in the sixth, took the win for the Hawks and Male was credited for the loss.

GAME 2
Kutztown 8, Chowan 6

The Golden Bears found themselves trailing early in the nightcap of their opening double header, as Chowan managed to bring one run across the plate in the top of the first. 

Kutztown bounced back in the top of the second, scoring two runs on three hits. Gavin Moretski (Harleysville, Pa./La Salle College H.S.) led off the inning after being hit by a pitch, he stole second before advancing to third on a single by Jimmy Kerley (Indian Trail, N.C./Sun Valley). Kerley would swipe second himself during the next at bat. Brandon Heere (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg) knocked in Morestski on a sac fly to center to get the Golden Bears on the board. Kerley would eventually come in to score on a single up the middle by Joey Pettinelli (Broomall, Pa./Marple Newtown). 

Kutztown's starting pitcher Dominic Proietto (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) would settle in during the second and keep the Hawks off the board striking out three in the inning. In the third Chowan managed to tie it up at 2-2 bringing a run home on a sac fly to center. 

The Golden Bears were able to answer again, after getting the first two batters to second and third with one out, Cole Regn (Berlin, N.J./Eastern Regional) knocked in one on a sac fly to right field. Another would come in to score on a single to right center by Mike Kelly (Schwenksville, Pa./Pope John Paul II). 

Not going down without a fight, Chowan answered with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. 

All square heading into the fifth, Kutztown was able to crack the game open, scoring four runs in a long inning sending 10 batters to the plate. With only one hit in the inning the Golden Bear's took what they were given, drawing four walks, one hit by pitch, and reaching on one error. 

Trevor Leverington (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown) would take over on the mound for the Maroon and Gold in the bottom of the fifth. After the first three batters reached base safely, Leverington was able to work his way out of a jam, giving up two runs in the process.  

Leverington kept Chowan off the board the next two innings to seal the victory for the Golden Bears. Proietto is credited for Kutztown's first win of the season, going four innings on the mound, giving up six hits, while striking out eight in the effort.

Chowan and Kutztown continue their series in Murfreesboro tomorrow, Feb. 6th, with a doubleheader starting at 12:00pm.