KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University baseball team split a doubleheader on Friday afternoon at North Campus Baseball Field, dropping a tight, 6-3 early matchup before responding with a 10-4 victory in the first two of four games against the Mercy Mavericks in the season series.
The Golden Bears (6-8) got their offensive starts late in both games against the Mavericks (11-9), first running into a scorching hot starting pitcher in game one and taking time to get the offense settled into the second game game two. The latter game saw an 8-1 scoring run that showed Kutztown's true strength, providing the Mavericks an image of what to expect from KU in tomorrow's game at their home field.
Game 1: Mercy 6, Kutztown 3
The Mavericks jumped out to a six-run lead by the fourth inning and rode starter Nevin Scaperotti (W, 1-4) to a three-run victory in the series opener. The top of the fourth was the big inning for the visitors, as it began with a triple from shortstop Joseph Gonzalez and concluded with four runs to give the Mercy the advantage it needed to win the game.
Kutztown made a strong push in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring three runs in an attempt to shake the Mavericks, but closer Samuel Gil (SV, 5) shut down the threat and secured the game for Mercy.
Kutztown's offense was led by Jimmy Kerley (Indian Trail, N.C./Sun Valley), who went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Sophomore catcher Preston Warne (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth) scored after coming in for Michael Burns (Levittown, Pa./Harry S. Truman), while Jared Ferguson (Reinholds, Pa./Cocalico) drew a walk and batted in a run for the Golden Bears in defeat. Kannon Zdimal (Morgantown, Pa./Twin Valley) (L, 1-2) went six innings and allowed six runs (two earned), striking out five over 95 pitches. Jeremy Fallon (Souderton, Pa./Souderton) came in for the seventh inning and allowed two hits and no runs to conclude the game.
Game 2: Kutztown 10, Mercy 4
KU jumped at their first opportunity in the second frame, with Dalton Furst (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown) scoring on a double off the bat of Zach Tropiano (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) and Cam Burr (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg) coming across the plate shortly after on a wild pitch.
Mercy bounced back to take a one-run lead in the top of the fourth, a frame where KU managed to score a trio of runs on a pair of singles and a wild pitch to take a two-run lead, which they extended in the sixth inning with four runs to create a seven-run advantage that would secure them a win in the later game.
Right-handed hurler Cody Barberio (Green Lane, Pa./Quakertown) (W, 2-1) was the headliner in the Kutztown victory, going the full seven innings while allowing four runs and striking out three on 93 pitches. Starter Matthew Manzoeillo (L, 3-2) dropped the game after allowing the first five runs in 3.2 innings pitched for the Mavericks.
Tropiano and Jimmy Kerley (Indian Trail, N.C./Sun Valley) sent home a pair of runners each for KU while also getting three hits in the second game. Second baseman Cam Burr (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg) went 3-for-4 and came across the plate twice for Kutztown, while Bo Barthol (Breinigsville, Pa./Parkland) was hit by pitch three times, walked once and had a run batted in while leading off.
Kutztown finishes the back half of the series tomorrow, Saturday, Mar. 15, in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., where they will play the final two games against the Mercy Mavericks at 1 and 3:30 p.m.
