BLOOMSBURG, Pa. – After splitting their last two series, the Mansfield University baseball team will look to put it all together when they take on Bloomsburg University for a weekend Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East series with the reigning champions, beginning Friday, April 16 at Danny Litwhiler Field.

The Mounties (6-14, 5-11 PSAC East) host the Huskies on Saturday, April 16 at Shaute Field at the same time. Stay tuned to gomounties.com and the official Mansfield Athletics social media accounts (@MUMounties) for updates on the weekend.

THE MOUNTIES OF OLD
The Mansfield University baseball program was known for decades as an offensive powerhouse in the PSAC. The Mounties for nearly two decades led the conference in almost every major offensive category and were not afraid to get into high-scoring battles.

Fast forward to 2021 and the former style of play has returned. The Mounties had six home runs total in 2019, which was the last time the club played a full season. Mansfield has not only tripled that total this season, they surpassed the mark during the Friday doubleheader with LHU.

The Mountaineers 21 home runs this season have come from: senior Tyler Melko (seven), junior Assaf Lowengart (four), Zachary Shertzer (three), junior Jake Haas (two), while freshman Dylan Mercedes, sophomores Josh Farina and Zach Spray and juniors Brittain Shander and Nate Cotton all have one.

In his first season with the Mounties, Melko is one homer shy of the conference lead, while Shertzer is the reigning PSAC East Athlete of the Week after his monster weekend against the Bald Eagles.

Shertzer has a hit in nine of the last 10 games and is batting .478 (11-for-23) with 16 RBI and three home runs in the last two series.

LAST TIME OUT
The Mounties split with Lock Haven on Saturday, April 10, falling 7-0 in the opener before taking the nightcap, 8-3. The Mounties split (2-2) with the Bald Eagles on the weekend.

With game one tied at three with just two at-bats remaining, the Mounties broke things open with five runs thanks to an RBI from junior Ben Osborne and a pair of RBI from freshmen Dylan Mercedes (double) and Zachary Shertzer.

Sophomore Josh Colon, who took over for freshman Eric Gustofson in the fifth, did not allow a run in 2 and 2/3 innings to pick up his second win.

Mercedes, Osborne and Shertzer each drove in two runs to lead the Mountie offense, while junior Assaf Lowengart and senior Tyler Melko each added an RBI. Mercedes and Melko doubled and Lowengart hit his fourth home run of the year.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
The Huskies (9-7, 9-7 PSAC East) currently hold the fourth and final PSAC East postseason spot halfway through the season.

Bloomsburg took three-of-four from East Stroudsburg University during their last series. The Huskies split with the Warriors on Monday, falling 8-7 in the opener before taking the nightcap, 8-7.

Kyle OFier leads the offense and brings a .471 batting average, 22 RBI and five homers into Friday. Chad Cooperman has a 6.43 ERA but has benefited from the Huskie lineup, leading the pitching staff with a 3-0 record.

Bloomsburg was the PSAC Champions in 2019, the last completed season by the conference.

The Huskies were off to a 9-1 start before the 2020 season was cancelled.

FROM THE ARCHIVES
The Mounties are 80-61 all-time against the Huskies dating back to 1988. The Mounties longest win streak is 11 games from 2003 to 2005. However, the Mountaineers will look to end a nine-game skid with BU on Friday.

On This Date: 4/16/2013 - Taylor Throws Complete Game 9-inning Two-Hitter in 5-0 Win over Lock Haven – Hillson Two Wins Shy of 800

Quin Taylor went Bob Dylan at Lock Haven. The PA system at Foundation Field didn't play Dylan's iconic 1967 song Quinn the Eskimo but the lyics of Come all without, come all within, you'll not see nothing like the Mighty Quin were being sung all afternoon on the mound by Taylor.

Quin Taylor threw a complete-game, 9-inning, two-hitter to lead Mansfield to a 5-0 win over Lock Haven in a PSAC inter-divisional matchup.

SPECTATOR POLICY
Bloomsburg is not allowing visiting fans at home sporting events this spring.

Fans are permitted under the following guidelines for Mansfield's home doubleheader on Saturday.

• While on campus (including outdoors on campus grounds), wearing a face mask that covers the nose and mouth.
• Social distancing of at least six (6) feet.
• Family pods may sit or stand together, but not with other family pods.
• Spectators are not permitted to interact in close contact with any player, coach, official, or support staff members before, during, or after the contest.
• Signage will direct fans where they can and cannot sit. Seating will be limited at the venues to meet the social distancing guidelines. Fans are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
• No food or drinks permitted.
• No tailgating activities are allowed.
• Anyone exhibiting signs or symptoms of illness should not travel or attend games.

Fans are encouraged to take advantage of the free, live-streaming video coverage of home athletic contests through Mountie All-Access. Coverage links for live video and live stats are available at the links above and under each program's page at gomounties.com.

NEXT UP
The Mounties next series is with Shippensburg University beginning Friday, April 23 at noon (DH) on the road.