CARY, N.C. – The Kutztown University baseball team concludes their four-game stay at the USA Baseball National Training Complex with a 5-0 defeat at the hands of the Frostburg State Bobcats on Sunday night.
The Golden Bears (0-4) were shut out to end their trip down south, as starting pitcher Abel Saft (Kintnersville, Pa./Moravian Academy) picked up the loss in his first appearance of the season after getting through four innings with three earned runs and three strikeouts.
The Bobcats (2-0), who opened its season on Saturday with 12 strikeouts in a one-run victory over Slippery Rock, got a stellar performance from Zach Dodson, who pitched six innings and struck out nine while allowing five hits.
Kutztown's offense picked up more hits than the Bobcats on the night, but Frostburg State pulled ahead with a three-run third inning and relied on a stellar pitching staff to hold down the Golden Bears. The backend relievers of the opposition snuffed out any late attempt at scoring, as the final three innings featured four strikeouts, one walk and one hit allowed to KU.
Third baseman Jimmy Kerley (Indian Trail, N.C./Sun Valley) had a pair of hits in the early goings, and while he reached third base in both instances, he couldn't make it the extra 90 feet back home. Bo Barthol (Breinigsville, Pa./Parkland), Michael Burns (Levittown, Pa./Harry S. Truman) and Bryce Schafer (Kempton, Pa./Kutztown) each had a double as their lone hit of the night.
The backend of the bullpen looked strong for the Maroon and Gold, as freshman southpaw Aidan Myers (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown) had a strong debut, tossing 2.1 innings of late-inning relief, striking out six and walking two while not allowing a hit to the strong Bobcats lineup. Zack Wertman (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg) also made quick work in his lone inning to finish the game.
The Golden Bears return home to North Campus Field this weekend for a doubleheader against Lincoln (Pa.) on Saturday, Mar. 1, with first pitches scheduled for noon and 2:30 p.m. They face the Lions in a third game in Lincoln University, Pa., on Sunday, Mar. 2 at 1 p.m.
