CORNING, N.Y. – Junior Josh Farina had a career day at the plate to ignite the Mansfield University baseball team to an 11-3 come-from-behind victory over Kutztown University in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division action at Corning Community College on Monday afternoon, April 11.

The Mounties (12-17, 5-7 PSAC East) take the series with Kutztown (9-21, 4-11 PSAC East) two games to one, notching their first conference series victory on the year.

Farina finished 4-for-4 at the plate, doubled three times, scored twice and drove in a career-high five runs, while senior Samuel Freedman left the yard for the fifth time this season to lead the way.

Senior Assaf Lowengart also doubled and drove in two runs, while senior Brady Mengel continued his hot start, going 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs. Sophomore Ryan Scott and junior Brittain Shander also drove in runs.  

Kutztown used two hits and a wild pitch to jump out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning.

However, Freedman ignited the comeback effort with an opposite field solo home run to put the Mounties on the board and trim the deficit to 3-1. It marks his team-leading fifth big-fly of the year.

MU put their stamp on the game in the bottom of the fifth as Farina and Lowengart (2) hit a pair of RBI doubles to give the Mounties their first lead on the afternoon, 4-3.

The Mounties started to pile it on in the sixth, scoring four runs on three hits to extend the advantage to five. Senior Ben Osborne, Mengel and sophomore Dylan Mercedes reached safely to start the inning with bases loaded before Farina doubled to left center, scoring two. Scott and Shander capped off the rally with an RBI each.

The Mounties continued to put it on in the bottom of the seventh, scoring two runs on four hits to extend the lead to 10-3. Osborne, Mengel and freshman Jacob Houtz recorded hits in the inning, while Farina sent his third double of the day down the right field line to pick up his fourth and fifth RBI of the day.

The Mounties scored their 11^th run in the bottom of the eighth when Mengel singled to right to plate Lowengart.

Sophomore Luke Payne (2-1) took the ball in the top of the fifth and held the Golden Bears scoreless over the next three frames to pick up his second victory of the season. Sophomore Bobby Curry and senior Lorenzo Febbo combined to shut the door with a scoreless two innings to close out the game. Sophomore Ryan King was charged with the three runs in the third, but was perfect in his other three frames, finishing with a team-high four strikeouts.

Gavin Moretski was charged with the loss for KU, allowing eight runs (five earned) on seven hits, through six innings. Ethan Martini and Mike Kelly each picked up RBI to lead the offense.

The Mounties travel to Slippery Rock University tomorrow afternoon, Tuesday, April 12 for a noon non-conference doubleheader.