STORYLINE
The Huskies will look to snap a nine-game losing skid and get back into the PSAC East playoff picture with against Kutztown, which enters the series a game back of Bloomsburg at 4-10 in the conference.

SCOUTING KUTZTOWN
The Golden Bears are the defending PSAC champions after catching fire late in the season last spring, getting into the conference tournament on the season's final day as the No. 4 seed. Kutztown then delivered three straight upsets to become the first No. 4 seed to ever win the conference tournament.

Kutztown was picked fifth in this year's preseason coaches poll and started red hot, winning eight straight games in an early March trip to Wilson, N.C. Since then, however, the Golden Bears have gone 4-10 against the PSAC, dropping three of four to East Stroudsburg, Shippensburg and West Chester and also split a doubleheader with Mansfield, dropping a 7-6 game two 14-inning marathon to the Mountaineers.

The Golden Bears rank 11th in the conference in hitting, batting .294 as a team – showing the strength of the PSAC offensively on the year. Junior Brady McNab leads the team with a .410 batting average entering this weekend, also pacing the team with 15 RBIs. Matthew Armour is hitting at a .395 clip with 12 RBIs while newcomer Ryan Cox, a transfer from Division I St. Bonaventure, is in at a .310 batting average with 10 RBIs. Travis Kreitz is the only KU player with multiple home runs on the year with two.

Kutztown also stands fourth in the league in team ERA (4.31) with redshirt junior Paul Piromalli showing the way with a sparkling 1.55 ERA, but only a 3-2 record to show for it. Opponents are batting just .224 against him on the year. Pat Flynn (1-1, 4.45), Matt Swarmer (3-3, 4.91) and Bobby Reddick (1-3, 5.14) have also been members of the Kutztown rotation this season. Eric Hartranft (1-0, 4.00), Cameron Mathis (1-1, 2.25) and Matt Matricardi (0-0, 6.43) all have at least seven appearances out of the bullpen.

LAST YEAR'S SERIES
The Huskies posted a perfect 5-0 record against the eventual 2014 PSAC champions last spring, winning a 9-1 non-conference game at the Builder Invitational before scoring wins of 1-0 and 2-1 on the road and 7-6 and 11-7 at home April 12-13. Eric Frain (Philadelphia/Archbishop Ryan) was outstanding vs. KU, hitting .421 with a .450 on-base percentage and seven RBIs along with three stolen bases. Brian Almand (Haddon Township, NJ/Paul VI) also batted .385 with a .500 on-base percentage, also driving home seven RBIs including a home run. Cody Heane (McClure/Indian Valley) had two saves with 2.2 scoreless innings of relief while Tyler Hill (Lehighton/Lehighton) went 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA, striking out eight in 6.1 innings during his one outing.

BENSON GOES YARD
Newcomer Tyler Benson (Montville, N.J./Montville Township) blasted his first collegiate home run in game one vs. Millersville on Monday, a no-doubter that flew nearly 400 feet out to right center. Benson is hitting .314 on the season with eight RBIs.

RAVEL STAYS HOT AT THE PLATE
Senior Tim Ravel (Sinking Spring/Wilson) roped two doubles in game two vs. Millersville on Monday and enters this weekend leading the team with a .346 batting average. Ravel's five doubles are second on the team to the seven from Eric Frain (Philadelphia/Archbishop Ryan).

SENIORS RELIABLE ON THE HILL
A pair of seniors anchor the Huskies pitching staff as Tyler Hill (Lehighton/Lehighton) has unquestionably been the team's ace, going 3-2 with a 3.54 ERA and a team-high 18 strikeouts. Reliever Cody Heane (McClure/Indian Valley) has again been strong out of the bullpen, recording a 3.21 ERA and three saves.

BY THE NUMBERS
7 - The Huskies have won seven straight games over Kutztown dating to 2013, including three one-run wins last year.

.417 - Tyler Benson (Montville, N.J./Montville Township) has batted leadoff in the Huskies' past four games and has done well in that role - the freshman is batting .417 when leading off innings this year.

.476 - Eric Frain (Philadelphia/Archbishop Ryan) is batting a team-best .476 with runners on base this season. His .375 batting average with runners in scoring position is also best on the team.

.563 - Damin Muth (Breinigsville/Parkland) has been outstanding at keeping innings alive this year, batting .563 with two outs.