KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University baseball team couldn't find a way past the 14th-ranked West Chester Golden Rams on Saturday afternoon, falling in a 12-2 opener before dropping a 9-7 series finale in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference doubleheader at North Campus Baseball Field.

The Golden Bears (8-18, 2-6 PSAC East) were looking to ride the home crowd and mid-70 degree afternoon in Kutztown to a pair of victories to avenge Friday's two losses, but the Golden Rams (21-5, 6-2 PSAC East) continued their roll to a sweep of KU and claim their seventh straight victory of the season.

Game 1: West Chester 12, Kutztown 2

The Golden Bears were limited on offense by the masterful pitching of WCU's Kyle Lazer (W, 6-0), who fanned seven and allowed one hit over five innings. Kutztown put forth just three hits on the afternoon, and while they managed a pair of runs in the sixth inning, it was too late to mount a comeback against a sound Golden Rams squad.

The visiting team's offense was equally impressive, scoring 11 of their 12 runs in the second and fourth innings while tallying 14 hits and seven doubles on the afternoon. The Golden Rams made noise to chase Kutztown's Kannon Zdimal (Morgantown, Pa./Twin Valley) (L, 1-4) at the beginning of the fourth inning after allowing nine runs, sending in all four batters he faced in the fourth before leaving the game.

Right-hander Evan Krippel (Levittown, Pa./Neshaminy) came in to relieve Zdimal, throwing four innings of three-hit ball while striking out a pair over 55 pitches.

Game 2: West Chester 9, Kutztown 7

Kutztown came alive in the second game, nearly breaking the game open and topping one of the nation's best teams to conclude their season series. The sixth inning was ultimately the deciding factor, as WCU held a 5-3 edge in the frame to gain the deciding, two-run advantage.

West Chester held a three-run advantage after two innings, but Kutztown tied it in the third after the Golden Rams loaded up the base path, while they snagged their first lead in the fourth with a Jimmy Kerley (Indian Trail, N.C./Sun Valley) single. WCU scored six unanswered runs over three innings, and despite the late push from the Golden Bears offense, the home team grounded into a game-ending double play to give West Chester a series sweep.

The Kerley single was one of the third baseman's three hits in the second game. Fellow infielder Cam Burr (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg) reached base three times (two walks and a hit), while right fielder Dalton Furst (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown) tallied a pair of runs batted in while going 2-for-3 in the second game.

Jesse Specter's 2.1 innings of work as the second of five Golden Rams pitchers gave him his first win of the season, while teammate Patrick Taney (SV, 1) claimed his first save of the year on the afternoon. Eddie Frye (Lorton, Va./South County) (L, 2-1) allowed five runs in one inning to take the loss, while KU's Tyler Cleveland (Pillow, Pa./Upper Dauphin) had a strong inning to finish the game. Starters Ryan DeHaven (2.2 IP, 3 ER, 3 Ks) and Paul Moretski (Harleysville, Pa./Lansdale Catholic) (5 IP, 3 ER, 2 Ks) did not earn decisions in the fourth and final game between the two teams this weekend.

The Golden Bears will host a midweek afternoon non-conference game against the Adelphi Panthers on Wednesday, April 2, at 3 p.m. at North Campus Baseball Field.