MANSFIELD –
Tanner Klein pitched a complete game, five hit shutout to secure a Mansfield series win against the Kutztown Bears in a 4-0 game two victory at Shaute Field on Saturday.
The Mounties fell in game one 3-2 despite a strong outing from
Luke Hils on the mound.
Mansfield got to the Kutztown (14-25, 8-14 PSAC East) starter early with a
Taylor Hillson leadoff single. Hillson would later come around to score on a
Dio Infante sacrifice fly to give the Mounties the 1-0 lead in the first.
The scoring would continue for the Mountaineers (19-21, 10-10 PSAC East) in the bottom half of the fourth with
Tanner Klein helping his own cause with an RBI double into the right center field gap following a
Ryan Paige single to lead off the inning. Klein moved to third on a wild pitch and would then come around to score after an errant throw by the Kutztown catcher to bring the Mansfield lead to 3-0 after four innings of play.
Klein was masterful on the mound finishing with four strikeouts, no walks, and no runs allowed over seven innings of work. He helped his cause at the plate-going one for two with a double and a walk.
In game one, Kutztown struck early against Mansfield starter junior Hils, putting up two early runs in the top half of the first for a 2-0 lead. The Mountaineers would strike back in the bottom of the second with a run of their own on a
Brady Mengel RBI single following an Infante double.
Mansfield would tie the game at two in the bottom of the sixth after a wild pitch followed by a throwing error by the catcher allowed Infante to score.
The Bears would strike back in the top of the seventh with a run of their own after a pair of singles. The Mounties would go quietly in the bottom half of the inning.
It was a strong outing for Hils however, going seven innings and striking out three.
The Mountaineers sit two games back of Millersville in what is becoming a very tight race for the final playoff spot in the PSAC East.
Mansfield in back in action Tuesday when they welcome Clarion to Shaute Field, first pitch is set for 1:00 PM.
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