DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – The Kutztown University baseball team fell to the Mercy Mavericks on Saturday afternoon by scores of 9-1 and 10-4 at Mercy Field to close out the season series after splitting their first two games at Kutztown on Friday.
The Golden Bears (6-10 overall) couldn't slow the bats of the Mavericks (13-9), who scored at least seven runs in one frame of each game on Saturday to secure their wins over Kutztown as they look ahead to conference play. While the Maroon and Gold recorded early runs to start its quest for a win, it was the middle-inning dominance of the Mavericks that overwhelmed the Golden Bears to give MU a 3-1 season series win.
Game 1: Mercy 9, Kutztown 1
The Golden Bears handled the Mavericks for the first half of the game, evening up the score at one run apiece in the top of the fifth inning, but an eight-run bottom half of the frame gave Mercy some breathing room to defeat KU in the early game.
A pair of runs batted in by Mercy's Zach Ashline and Sean McAdams were key in the fifth inning scoring run, as was the six-inning performance from pitcher Diego Wirz (W, 3-1), who allowed one run over 82 pitches.
Kutztown struggled to get timely baserunners against Wirz, as infielders Cam Burr (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg) and Bryce Schafer (Kempton, Pa./Kutztown) both reached base twice, but only one run was scored by Burr in the second inning. Paul Moretski (Harleysville, Pa./Lansdale Catholic) (L, 1-2) pulled the loss from the outing, allowing nine runs (eight earned) on 11 hits despite recording seven strikeouts on the afternoon. Reliever Aidan Myers (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown) faced five batters in an efficient sixth inning on the tail end.
Game 2: Mercy 10, Kutztown 4
Kutztown responded to a 1-0 advantage with a pair of runs in the top of the second inning, thanks in part to a wild pitch and a passed ball on the Mavericks side of the operation. Mercy tightened things up following the mistakes, and confidence was regained in a seven-run third inning that featured seven hits and several other key plays to create an 8-2 lead for the home team.
The Golden Bears put two runs on the board with another passed ball and a wild pitch in the fifth inning, while Joe Gonzalez batted in a pair of insurance runs for Mercy in the bottom of the frame to close the scoring.
Right fielder Jared Ferguson (Reinholds, Pa./Cocalico) went 2-for-3 to lead the Golden Bears, coming across the plate once in defeat. Bo Barthol (Breinigsville, Pa./Parkland) and Michael Burns (Levittown, Pa./Harry S. Truman) each walked twice and recorded one hit, while Barthol managed to steal a pair of bases to get in better position for the Kutztown offense.
Abel Saft (Kintnersville, Pa./Moravian Academy) (L, 0-2) earned the first eight runs of the game over three innings of work, while Evan Krippel (Levittown, Pa./Neshaminy) and Eddie Frye (Lorton, Va./South County) were able to cool the Mavericks' bats in the final three innings. Andre Jenkins (W, 2-0) pitched four innings and earned the win for Mercy.
The Golden Bears travel to North Carolina for games against Barton (Tuesday, Mar. 18 at 3 p.m.) and Chowan (Wednesday, Mar. 19 at 1 p.m.) before coming home to North Campus Field to open conference play with a doubleheader against Mansfield on Friday, Mar. 21, with first pitch slated for 1 p.m.
