MURFEESBORO, NC – Kutztown University baseball managed to pull off the weekend series split at Chowan to bring its opening weekend to a close. The Golden Bears had to bounce back again in game two after losing game one, just like yesterday. Kutztown's bats were shut down for most of game one with only two hits. The Golden Bears had much more success at the plate in game two scoring five runs and finishing the game with nine hits.
 
Game One – Chowan 7, Kutztown 1
 
The Golden Bear offense was shut down for much of the game by Chowan's starting pitcher freshman Carson Everette. Kutztown had its own freshman on the mound, Paul Moretski (Harleysville, Pa./Lansdale Catholic) making his debut in a Golden Bear uniform.
 
Kutztown fell behind early, with the Hawks leadoff man reaching first after being walked. After stealing second, he would come across to score before the first out was recorded on a single to left center. Morestki was able to get out of the inning without any further damage stranding runners on first and third.
 
The Golden Bears were retired in order until the top of the fourth inning, Gavin Moretski (Harleysville, Pa./La Salle College H.S.) managed to break up Everette's no hit bid with a single up the middle. Chowan worked its way out of the inning, getting the next batter to ground into a double play.  
 
The Hawks offense continued to have success scoring four runs on three hits in the next two innings, aided by a pair of Golden Bear errors.
 
Kutztown's offense began to show life late in the top of the seventh, Jason Wolf led off the inning reaching first on a hit by pitch. Wolf would be the only Golden Bear to cross the plate in the game on a single to left center by Zach Moretski (Harleysville, Pa./La Salle College H.S.).
 
Everette was able to close out the game, credited for the win throwing seven innings with eight strike outs, only allowing two hits.
 
Game Two – Kutztown 5, Chowan 0
 
Kutztown came out fast in the night cap of the double header scoring one run in each of the first two innings takings a 2-0 lead over the Hawks. In the top of the first, leadoff hitter Mike Kelly (Schwenksville, Pa./Pope John Paul II) got on base and came around to score on a single to right field by Jimmy Kerley (Indian Trail, N.C./Sun Valley). In the top of the second, Jacoby Pate (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Township) came around to score on a Joey Pettinelli (Broomall, Pa./Marple Newtown) single up the middle.
 
Kutztown's lead continued to grow throughout the game, in the top of the sixth they managed to plate two more runs after a double by Zach Moretski (Harleysville, Pa./La Salle College H.S.) had runners on second and third with two outs. A pair of singles by Colt Narciso (Norristown, Pa./Pope John Paul II) and Brennan Rozich (Oxford, Pa./Oxford) brought both runners in to score. 
 
 The Golden Bears final run would come in the top of the seventh to extend their lead to 5-0, Antonio Rosillo singled to left center to bring in Pettinelli. Seven different Golden Bears had hits in the game, Kerley and Pettinelli leading the way with two each.
 
Gavin Moretski (Harleysville, Pa./La Salle College H.S.) delivered a strong effort on the mound for the Maroon and Gold, throwing five shutout innings for Kutztown, tallying eight strike outs. Moretski would be relieved by Dalton Geiger (Leesport, Pa./Schuylkill Valley) in the bottom of the sixth, Geiger shut the door on the Hawks completing the shut out.
 
Kutztown will be back in action on Friday, Feb. 18, as it heads down to Wingate N.C., to take on the reigning national champions in a three-game series.