KUTZTOWN, Pa. – On a day where both the Kutztown and Mansfield University baseball teams honored the life and legacy of late KU pitcher
Stephen Hood (Lansford, Pa./Panther Valley), the Golden Bears pitching staff showed off in a big way on their side of the ball, claiming one run victories by scores of 3-2 and 4-3, in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division series at North Campus Field on Saturday afternoon.
The Golden Bears (10-10, 2-4 PSAC East) had to battle it out late in both games, winning it late on a walkoff in the seventh frame of the opener and fending off the Mountaineers (10-15, 1-5 PSAC East) in a two-out, bases loaded situation in the seventh inning of the nightcap to return to .500 on the season and claim a challenging pair of victories as it battled the typical North Campus winds.
Prior to today's game, the Kutztown University baseball team held a ceremony for Hood, which featured a framed jersey gifted to the Hood family and a bench dedication in the Golden Bears' home bullpen. Among his family on the field for the ceremony was Mansfield's Brad Hood, a redshirt sophomore right-handed pitcher.
Game 1: Kutztown 3, Mansfield 2
A complete game effort from starter
Abel Saft (Kintnersville, Pa./Moravian Academy) (W, 2-2) was the highlight of the day, as the graduate righty struck out three while allowing seven hits across 91 pitches. He set the course for the offense, which, despite entering the bottom of the seventh down by a pair, felt enough momentum go its way.
Things got started with a single for
Dalton Furst (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown), and a
Bryce Schafer (Kempton, Pa./Kutztown) walk chased Mansfield starter Garrett Emerick, who walked three and hit two batters in a no-decision. A single into right field off the bat of second baseman
Cam Burr (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg) was turned into more when a throwing error allowed everyone to move up an extra base, including Furst to come around and get KU on the board.
With the bases loaded after an intentional walk of
Bo Barthol (Breinigsville, Pa./Parkland) and a popout that followed, it was up to designated hitter
Jared Ferguson (Reinholds, Pa./Cocalico) to decide the game for the Golden Bears.
The junior designated hitter did just that, notching his second base hit of the day off of reliever Matt Rader (L, 0-2) on a ball that just got past a pair of diving middle infielders. The well-placed knock sent Burr and pinch runner
Zach Tropiano (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) around as the tying and go-ahead runs for Kutztown.
The Golden Bear infield turned a pair of double plays to save scoring threats from the Mounties, as
Nick Varda (Columbia, Md./Atholton) and
Drew Wheeler (Waxhaw, N.C./Marvin Ridge) each started plays that ended up in the gloves of both Burr and Schafer in the end.
The final line saw Kutztown score three runs on five hits, while Mansfield had two runs on seven hits with one error.
Game 2: Kutztown 4, Mansfield 3
The Mountaineers jumped ahead first and early once again, but it wasn't long before Kutztown put up its run total in a countermove.
Mansfield scored a pair of runs in the top of the second inning, scoring with no outs in the frame. The counter began with a walk by
Zack Wertman (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg) and a pair of singles by
Aiden Soumas (Blandon, Pa./Fleetwood) and
Owen Rector (Nottingham, Pa./Oxford). Barthol, claiming a free base once again in a similar fashion as the first outing, sent Wertman home, while singles from
Michael Burns (Levittown, Pa./Harry S. Truman) and Varda sent home three more.
Rector finished the day 2-for-3 with a run, while Varda tallied a pair of runs batted in and Barthol collected a trio of walks in the win.
While there were some chances for KU to add to its lead, it was enough of an advantage that starter
Kooper Zdimal (Morgantown, Pa./Twin Valley) (W, 2-0) and closer
Logan Woodward (Furlong, Pa./Germantown Academy) (SV, 3) could protect for the team's third straight win. Zdimal notched five strikeouts while allowing just four hits across five innings, while Woodward didn't allow a hit in his two innings of work at the end.
Mansfield starter Tyler Swineford (L, 2-3) struck out seven KU batters, but gave up six hits and four earned runs in a losing effort.
Kutztown had four runs on six hits and an error in its win, while Mansfield ended up with three runs on four hits with two errors in defeat.
Kutztown travels to Williamsport, Pa., to face Mansfield in the road portion of the series at Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field, with the doubleheader set to begin at 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon. The team returns to North Campus Field on Friday, April 3, for the first two games of a PSAC East series against the West Chester Golden Rams. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
