ATHENS, W. Va. – Sophomore left fielder
Joel Bonner (Hulmeville, Pa./Neshaminy) used a three-run home run and five runs batted in to power the Kutztown University baseball team to an 11-2 victory over the Concord Mountain Lions in Sunday's non-conference series rubber match at Anderson Field.
The Golden Bears (3-3 overall) used a strong offense that featured 12 hits – including a pair of home runs and three doubles – to slay the Mountain Lions (5-8) and claim its first series victory since last year's three-games-to-one triumph over Saint Michael's at North Campus Field in early March.
The nine-inning game saw both teams score once in the first frame, and while Concord managed to stay at bay and make attempts to get ahead, the Maroon and Gold put up a pair of runs in the third and fourth innings to go up by four, while limiting the Mountain Lions' offense through the first half of the game.
The sixth inning turned out to be the kill shot, as not only did Bonner record a three-run blast out of right field, but first baseman
Zack Wertman (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg) sent his second career home run out of the yard the opposite way, combining to represent four of the team's six runs in the frame. Kutztown cruised to a victory after that, allowing just three hits over the final four Concord opportunities for the victory.
Head coach
Eric Folmar went with senior right-hander
Eddie Frye (Lorton, Va./South County) on the hill as the starter, and the Lorton, Va., native responded with four strong innings, allowing one unearned run and just four hits in a winning effort.
Abel Saft (Kintnersville, Pa./Moravian Academy) (W, 1-1) took care of the final five frames, allowing four hits and the lone earned run on the afternoon while striking out four.
Kutztown's offense roughed up rookie Jonah Adams (L, 0-3), who went five innings and allowed six runs (four earned). The Golden Bears also went after his replacement, senior Kerry Collins, who allowed five runs (all earned) across two-thirds of an inning.
Bonner's five RBIs in a game are the most by a Golden Bear since
Bo Barthol (Breinigsville, Pa./Parkland) had five in the team's 9-4 win over Adelphi early last season. The team's 11 runs in a game is the most scored by a KU team since the 15 runs it put up against Bloomsburg in a mid-April win a season ago.
KU finished the day with 11 runs on 12 hits and no errors, while Concord capped off the day with a pair of runs on eight hits and two errors in defeat.
The Golden Bears head back to North Campus Field for three series across a ten-day span to open its 2026 home slate, starting with a Wednesday doubleheader opening day against Lincoln (Pa.) on March 4, with first pitches scheduled at noon and 2:30 p.m.
