KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University baseball team faced the Saint Michael's Purple Knights in another gusty doubleheader at North Campus Baseball Field on Friday afternoon, claiming a pair of victories in the two-game set by scores of 4-1 and 12-3.
The Golden Bears (4-5) showed confidence in their pitching staff in game one while leaning on a potent offensive unit to finish the second game against the Purple Knights (0-2), who made their season debut after having games canceled earlier this year.
Game 1: Kutztown 4, Saint Michael's 1
Sophomore Kannon Zdimal (Morgantown, Pa./Twin Valley) (1-1) was the headliner of the opening game, going 6.2 innings and picking up his first win of the season in a masterful performance. The right-hander had six strikeouts and one unearned run, limiting the Purple Knights to five hits and a pair of walks while throwing 94 pitches.
He was able to claim the win thanks to a pair of runs batted in from second baseman Cam Burr (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg), who went 1-for-2 in the opening game and scored a third run in the sixth inning for insurance. He knocked in right fielder Dalton Furst (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown) in the second and fourth innings, giving Zdimal the run support needed to comfortably win the game.
Eddie Frye (Lorton, Va./South County) (SV, 1) collected his first save of the season, cleaning up the remaining Saint Michael's runners to put the game away for the Golden Bears. Braedon Jones (0-1) took the loss for SMC, allowing three runs (two earned) over four innings while striking out four and walking a pair.
Game 2: Kutztown 12, Saint Michael's 3
The Kutztown offense lit up its opponent in the second game, with four players collecting multiple hits while facing six different Saint Michael's pitchers. Center fielder Bo Barthol (Breinigsville, Pa./Parkland) led off and starred for KU, going perfect on four at-bats while bringing a runner home and crossing the plate three times. He added in a stolen base while advancing on several misplayed balls, putting the sophomore in ideal positions to pressure the Purple Knights.
Jimmy Kerley (Indian Trail, N.C./Sun Valley) and Bryce Schafer (Kempton, Pa./Kutztown) each went 2-for-4, with the former knocking in four runs and the latter bringing home three. Kerley's two deep doubles each cleared the bases of Kutztown runners, while Schafer sent his runners home in the first two innings of play.
Cody Barberio (Green Lane, Pa./Quakertown) (1-1) posted six stellar innings, allowing two runs (one earned) while striking out four on 84 pitches. Jeremy Fallon (Souderton, Pa./Souderton) finished the game in the seventh, striking out two in relief for the Maroon and Gold.
Colin Burke (0-1) made his first appearance of the season for the Purple Knights, picking up the loss after lasting just one out into the game. He was tagged with four runs (three earned) on two hits, a walk and a hit by pitch, lasting just 19 pitches before the bullpen took over. Two other Saint Michael's pitchers allowed three earned runs, while the visiting side granted six walks and struck out four batters.
Kutztown is now a perfect 4-0 at home, putting up some eye-popping numbers in all four games despite windy conditions and solid opposition.
The Purple Knights and Golden Bears return to North Campus Field tomorrow, March 7, seeking two more wins in the second of two doubleheaders, with start times set for 12 and 2:30 p.m.
