MANSFIELD, Pa. – The Kutztown University baseball team claimed a win in the opening game of its doubleheader against the Mansfield Mountaineers on Saturday, winning an 11-10 ballgame before surrendering a 17-6 defeat at Shaute Field to even the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference season series at two games apiece.

The Golden Bears (8-14, 2-2 PSAC) earned a come-from-behind victory thanks to three runs batted in from Jimmy Kerley (Indian Trail, N.C./Sun Valley) and Dalton Furst (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown), snagging the win away from the Mountaineers (7-11, 2-2 PSAC). The home team, however, held the advantage in the final game of the afternoon, scoring in all six frames on their way to securing their first conference series win of the season.

Game 1: Kutztown 11, Mansfield 10

After Kutztown managed a 4-2 lead through three, the six-run fourth inning took place for Mansfield, who scored three of their six runs via home run. KU responded with a 7-2 stretch in the final three innings, holding off Mansfield to open the day with a one-run victory.

Kerley was the featured bat for the Golden Bears, notching a hit on all three at-bats while sending one of the three over the fence and recording two walks on five appearances. Left fielder Bo Barthol (Breinigsville, Pa./Parkland) also homered and stole a pair of bases, while Nick Varda (Columbia, Md./Atholton) went 3-for-4 and scored three times.

Jeremy Fallon (Souderton, Pa./Souderton) (W, 1-1) claimed the victory for Kutztown after facing five batters and pitching one inning while allowing a run in the sixth. Eddie Frye (Lorton, Va./South County) (SV, 2) closed the inning by throwing a one-run seventh, keeping Mansfield away from the win. Mason Pfeil (L, 2-2) took the loss for the Mountaineers after lasting two innings and allowing six runs (five earned).

Game 2: Mansfield 17, Kutztown 6

Mansfield would not halt their scoring efforts from the first game, producing 17 runs highlighted by six RBIs from Jacob Houtz, who had three doubles in the nightcap. While Kutztown held a 2-1 advantage in the opening inning, the 11 combined runs recorded in the fourth and fifth innings were too much of a hurdle to overcome for the Golden Bears, who settled for the two-game split in the end.

Designated hitter Jared Ferguson (Reinholds, Pa./Cocalico) went 2-for-4 with three runs batted in, while Nick Varda (Columbia, Md./Atholton) recorded an RBI triple in the first inning to send Bo Barthol (Breinigsville, Pa./Parkland) home for the game's first run.

Redshirt junior Abel Saft (Kintnersville, Pa./Moravian Academy) (L, 0-3) allowed 10 runs (six earned) over four innings to take the loss. Garrett Emerick (W, 2-1) threw six innings of three-run ball, with each starter striking out one against their opponent. Mansfield managed their scoring on just 10 hits, two more than Kutztown's eight hits on the night.

The Golden Bears move forward to a series against the West Chester Golden Rams next weekend, with the first doubleheader taking place Friday, March 28, at 1 p.m. on the road, while the second pair of games begins at the same time at North Campus Baseball Field on Saturday, March 29.