KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University baseball team held off the Lincoln (Pa.) Lions in a pair of games on Saturday afternoon, with the Golden Bears claiming their first two victories of the season in 11-8 and 16-15 decisions in the team's home opener at North Campus Baseball Field.
The Golden Bears (2-4 overall) bounced back from a series filled with challenging neutral site games and settled into its first matchups in front of the home crowd, putting on an offensive show and hanging on in late comeback attempts to defeat the Lions (1-4), who they will get a chance to sweep the season series against with a game at the LU Baseball Complex tomorrow.
Game 1: Kutztown 11, Lincoln (Pa.) 8
KU was anchored by leadoff hitter Bo Barthol (Breinigsville, Pa./Parkland), who hit a trio of doubles and drove in three runs in his 4-for-4 performance. He came around on two of the team's five runs in the first two innings, as the Golden Bears held a 5-1 advantage through four.
Lincoln leaned on three home runs in the sixth frame as part of a seven-run surge to tie things at eight runs apiece heading into the bottom of the sixth, but Kutztown was able to respond in the bottom of the inning with some well-positioned runners coming home to produce the three-run advantage that held to the end.
Kutztown started sophomore Kannon Zdimal (Morgantown, Pa./Twin Valley) on the mound, as he went 4.2 innings and gave up two runs (one earned) while striking out three. Right hander Eddie Frye (Lorton, Va./South County) (1-0) was credited with the win, recording the final five outs while striking out two and allowing one run. Lincoln's Dennis Flores (0-2), who threw 113 pitches in a complete game, six inning effort, was tagged with the loss after earning all 11 runs in the opening game.
Game 2: Kutztown 16, Lincoln (Pa.) 15
Kutztown carried the momentum into the latter game of the series, building a 9-1 lead in the opening two innings thanks in large part to six runs batted in from designated hitter Michael Burns (Levittown, Pa./Harry S. Truman). His big day was aided by fellow top-of-the-order hitters Barthol (3-for-4) and Nick Varda (Columbia, Md./Atholton) (1-for-2, three walks), with both coming across the plate at least three times in their one run win.
Similar to the opening game, the Lions would not back down. A trio of homers and an offensive barrage in the third (four runs), fifth (three runs) and seventh (six runs) innings gave Lincoln a 15-13 lead with three outs remaining, and their move to put one of their best offensive players, Jaden Greenidge, on the mound, looked to be working with one man out in the final frame.
The middle of the order came through for the Golden Bears, as Zack Wertman (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg) got his only hit of the day in a huge moment, sending Barthol home to make it a one run game. Two batters later, Jared Ferguson (Reinholds, Pa./Cocalico) slapped a ball to the left field corner to bring the final two runs of the game home for the fifth and sixth RBIs of his game two outing, ending the game with a celebration around him at second base.
Kutztown started Cody Barberio (Green Lane, Pa./Quakertown), who struck out a pair in 4.2 innings. Rookie right hander Evan Krippel (Levittown, Pa./Neshaminy) (1-0) got the save after relieving Aidan Myers (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown) and closing out the top of the seventh inning in one pitch. Greenidge (0-2) wrapped up the day with all three seventh-inning runs earned while facing five batters in the frame.
The final game saw the season's first two home runs from Burns and Ferguson, while the team collected six doubles to power themselves to victory.
Up next for the Golden Bears is a road matchup against the Lions at the LU Baseball Complex in Lincoln University, Pa., tomorrow, March 2, at 1 p.m. Kutztown will return to North Campus Field for a pair of nonconference doubleheaders against Saint Michael's on Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8, with games starting at 12 and 2:30 p.m.
