THE DETAILS
Bloomsburg (17-13, 9-5 PSAC East) vs. Kutztown (18-11, 6-8 PSAC East)
Saturday, April 12 – 1 p.m. / Sunday, April 13 - 1 p.m.
Kutztown, PA  /  Bloomsburg, PA (Danny Litwhiler Field)
Online Coverage – Live Stats | Audio (Saturday)  /  Live Stats (Sunday)
Bloomsburg Season Stats  |  Kutztown Season Stats
 
STORYLINE
The Huskies and Golden Bears meet for the second time this season but the first counting toward PSAC East standings as Bloomsburg looks to remain in the top two spots of the conference standings while Kutztown attempts to climb the ranks after a slow start to divisional play. Bloomsburg defeated Kutztown, 9-1, on Feb. 22 at the Builder Invitational, but that game did not count toward divisional standings. After postponement of Friday's scheduled doubleheader due to rain, the series begins in Kutztown on Saturday before shifting to Bloomsburg on Sunday.
 
SCOUTING KUTZTOWN
-The Golden Bears got out of the blocks in PSAC East play slowly, losing three of their first four games of the year in a four-game set with West Chester last month. Kutztown then split a doubleheader with nationally-ranked Millersville as well as Mansfield in back-to-back days before being swept at nationally-ranked Shippensburg and then returning the favor vs. the Raiders the very next day this past Sunday. Kutztown played at Mansfield on Wednesday, winning game one by an 8-5 score before falling, 11-4, in the night cap.

-Kutztown ranks ninth in the PSAC in batting average (.289) and 10th in team ERA (4.39) over their 29 games thus far in 2014.

-Power has not been a strength of the Golden Bears as they enter Friday tied for last in the conference in home runs with two on the season while slugging .345 as a team. They have scored two or fewer runs eight times this season but have also held opponents to two or fewer runs 10 times, posting a perfect 10-0 record in those games.

-The Golden Bears rank fourth in the PSAC in stolen bases, entering the week stealing more than two per game. Three players – Brandon Martinez (18), John Dockins (11) and Brandon Cholish have double digit stolen base totals on the year.

-Starter Colin Holmes entered the week ranking first in the conference in strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.50) and third in walks allowed per nine innings (1.13).

-Scoring early is a key for KU – the Golden Bears are 12-1 when scoring in the first inning.
 
BOMBS AWAY
The Huskies had not hit a home run this season entering last weekend, but have hit three this week. Damin Muth (Breinigsville/Parkland) has two of those round-trippers, recording his first collegiate long ball vs. Millersville last Saturday and then hit his second home run in a 15-6 win at Clarion on Wednesday. Earlier in that game at Clarion, Joey Casselberry (Eagleville/Methacton) helped put the game away with his first home run in maroon and gold – a three-run bomb.
 
FRESHMAN TOPS THE CONFERENCE
Muth continued his terrific freshman season with five hits in seven at bats in the doubleheader Wednesday at Clarion. He leads all PSAC players with a .444 batting average this season.
 
PUT IT IN THE BOOKS
The Huskies have been extremely efficient in locking down late leads this season. When leading after six innings, Bloomsburg is 13-0.
 
SECOND INNING SUCCESS
Bloomsburg has enjoyed more success in the second inning than any other frame this year, continuing that track record with a six-run second in the 15-6 win at Clarion on Wednesday. For the season the Huskies have outscored opponents by a 37-8 margin in the second inning.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
.154 – The batting average of left-handed batters vs. Tyler Hill (Lehighton/Lehighton) this season.
.333 – The Huskies batting average when hitting with two outs this year.
11 – Tim Ravel (Sinking Spring/Wilson) leads the team with 11 stolen bases this year and has 40 for his career, a number which ranks seventh all-time in school history.
65 – The total number of walks issued by the Huskies pitching staff in 227.1 innings entering Friday. Only California (PA) (53) and West Chester (63) have allowed fewer walks, however West Chester has only 184.2 innings pitched as a staff.
214.1 – Total innings pitched in the career of senior starter Casey Cooperman (Allentown/Parkland). He stands third in school history in total innings and could surpass the second place figure of 218.2 innings worked by Casey Markey from 2004-07 this weekend. J.P. Thomas owns the school record, pitching 235.0 innings from 1988-91.