KUTZTOWN, Pa. – On a day where the North Campus Field's trademark wind gusts swept sharply southward, the Kutztown University baseball team took full advantage and collected a pair of victories over the Clarion Golden Eagles on Saturday, winning 12-4 and 8-6 in a non-conference matchup.
The Golden Bears (7-6 overall), who put together a pair of outstanding, all-around performances, withstood the wind's wrath and were able to control what it needed to in order to slay the Golden Eagles (6-8).
Game 1: Kutztown 12, Clarion 4 (7 innings)
In the day's early showing, Kutztown jumped out to a six-run lead in the first inning and got great performances from pitchers
Kannon Zdimal (Morgantown, Pa./Twin Valley) (W, 3-1) and
Jeremy Fallon (Souderton, Pa./Souderton), who combined to allow just five hits and prevent the weather from completely taking over.
The Golden Bears' offense got jump-started by a pair of extra-base hits and some free passes, including a pair of walks and a wild pitch, leading to three of the first six runs being unearned.
Weather played a factor in the offensive-heavy third and fourth innings, as a pair of Clarion home runs leaked over the left field fence for the Golden Eagles, while back-to-back jacks by
Jared Ferguson (Reinholds, Pa./Cocalico) and
Nick Varda (Columbia, Md./Atholton) were sent the same way in response by the Golden Bears to make it 10-3 by the end of the third inning. A solo shot was sent into left by Clarion, but fifth and sixth inning scores by KU sealed the team's victory.
Ferguson led the way by going 4-for-4 with five RBIs, while both
Zack Wertman (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg) and
Bo Barthol (Breinigsville, Pa./Parkland) tallied a pair of hits, with the latter scoring a trio of runs.
Zdimal's start saw him go four innings and strike out seven batters, including each of the first four Golden Eagles, while allowing four hits and a pair of walks on 90 pitches. The efficient Fallon came in to relieve the junior righty, as he threw three innings of one-hit ball while striking out three in his first home outing of the year.
Kutztown's offense roughed up Ethan Giangiulio (L, 0-1), as he allowed six runs (three earned) while striking out one, walking two, and allowing four hits across one plus innings in defeat. The Maroon and Gold would score against the next two Clarion pitchers, combining for six runs (all earned) while drawing three walks.
The winning line for Kutztown featured 12 runs on 13 hits and an error, while Clarion ended the day with four runs on five hits and a pair of errors.
Game 2: Kutztown 8, Clarion 6 (9 innings)
Kutztown had to battle for a win in the second game of the afternoon, but did a stellar job in holding off its opponent in the end. Â
A pair of RBI singles from Kutztown's
Bryce Schafer (Kempton, Pa./Kutztown) and
Preston Warne (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth) got things going in the second inning, and the bench was electrified in the fourth when speedy center fielder
Bo Barthol (Breinigsville, Pa./Parkland) sent a bases-clearing triple to deep right center to score
Cam Burr (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg) and
Drew Wheeler (Waxhaw, N.C./Marvin Ridge).
Clarion bounced back with four runs in the fifth and claimed the lead with a throwing error an inning later. The Golden Bears were able to respond with a Schafer home run in the sixth, which was followed by a Ferguson RBI single to put the home team ahead by one. Two more runs in the seventh inning would pad the lead, and although the Golden Eagles rode the gusty wave into left field one last time in the eighth inning, the Golden Bears were able to protect its home field once again.
The latter game saw Schafer lead the way with a pair of RBIs on his 3-for-4 nightcap game, while Ferguson had a pair of hits and Wheeler crossed the plate twice in the win.
Kooper Zdimal (Morgantown, Pa./Twin Valley) allowed four runs through four innings and struck out five for a 90-pitch no-decision.
Eddie Frye (Lorton, Va./South County) (W, 1-1) and
Abel Saft (Kintnersville, Pa./Moravian Academy) (SV, 1) each came in for a pair of innings on the tail end of the nine inning marathon, with the former striking out two and not allowing a hit across 51 pitches, while the closer of the day struck out one and weathered a pair of hits in the final two innings.
Clarion's Luke Pietrandrea (L, 0-1), the pitcher responsible for the two go-ahead runs in the sixth inning, took the loss, as he granted two hits and the pair of runs across 33 pitches and 1.1 innings.
The winning line for Kutztown featured eight runs on 11 hits and three errors, while Clarion had six runs on six hits and one error in defeat.
The Golden Bears travel to Lock Haven for a midweek, non-conference contest with the Bald Eagles at Watkins Field on Tuesday, March 17, at 2 p.m. The team returns to North Campus Field to open conference action against the Shippensburg Raiders with a doubleheader on Friday, March 20, with games at 1 and 3:30 p.m.
