WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – The Kutztown University baseball team finished its weekend at Historic Bowman Field on Sunday, claiming a 7-5 win over the Mansfield Mountaineers before concluding the day with a 7-0 loss in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division action.
The Golden Bears (11-11, 3-5 PSAC East) claimed its fourth consecutive win in the opening game of the day, its third straight victory with a run differential of two runs or less. The Mountaineers (11-16, 2-6 PSAC East) bounced back with a strong offensive showing in the evening game, allowing each team to claim one win apiece on the neutral field to end the weekend.
Game 1: Kutztown 7, Mansfield 5
Another tight game opened the second day of competition between the two teams, and while the Mounties had a four-run second inning that kept them ahead and put the home squad in position to break its skid, a big final two innings from the Kutztown offense lifted the Golden Bears over the top.
With center fielder
Bo Barthol (Breinigsville, Pa./Parkland) doubling for his first of two hits in the opening game in the top of the first, it allowed for shortstop
Nick Varda (Columbia, Md./Atholton) to send him home on an RBI fielder's choice for the game's first run.
After a series of unlucky plays put Mansfield in the driver's seat, Kutztown applied pressure with a single and a walk in the third to send runs home and get within one run.
The Maroon and Gold answered the bell in the final two innings, as
Jared Ferguson (Reinholds, Pa./Cocalico) and
Joel Bonner (Hulmeville, Pa./Neshaminy) sent home Barthol and
Michael Burns (Levittown, Pa./Harry S. Truman) in the sixth inning, while Burns and
Jared Ferguson (Reinholds, Pa./Cocalico) tapped singles into the outfield to score Barthol and
Cam Burr (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg) the following inning to make it a three-run game.
Mansfield was able to score one in the bottom of the seventh, but KU's performance provided enough cushion for closer
Jeremy Fallon (Souderton, Pa./Souderton) (SV, 1) to lock down the game.
Starter
Kannon Zdimal (Morgantown, Pa./Twin Valley) (W, 4-2) ended his day after five innings, allowing just three hits while striking out six. Fallon got the final five outs and struck out a pair of batters in the win. Mansfield's Matt Rader (L, 0-3) collected a loss for the second straight day, allowing three runs on four hits in 1.2 innings of action.
Kutztown's winning line featured seven runs on nine hits with one error, while Mansfield had five runs on four hits and an error in defeat.
Game 2: Mansfield 7, Kutztown 0
It was a one-sided affair in the nightcap, one that featured five runs in the fifth and a struggle on the offensive side of the ball for Kutztown.
Starter
Eddie Frye (Lorton, Va./South County) (L, 1-3) absorbed the blows for the Golden Bears, pitching a complete game while striking out three on the evening. The defense behind him didn't post any errors, but the ten hits allowed didn't bode well to motivate a response from the Maroon and Gold.
Ferguson, playing right field in the second game, recorded a hit while reaching a second time on a walk, while
Zack Wertman (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg) managed a leadoff double in the seventh inning, but it would be the last hit of the game as Mansfield closed things out on top.
The Mounties saw starter Ryan Sink (W, 1-0) claim his first win, as he allowed just one hit across four innings. Closer Evan Woznick (SV, 1) collected his first save after getting the final seven outs of the game.
Mansfield scored seven runs on ten hits while committing an error, while Kutztown had just four hits in defeat.
The Golden Bears will take part in a PSAC East series with the West Chester Golden Rams, with the home set of games scheduled for Friday, April 3, at 1 and 3:30 p.m. at North Campus Field, and the road pair set for Saturday, April 4, at the same times in West Chester.
