KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Felician College baseball team erased two deficits, including a five-run first-inning hole, before succumbing to host Kutztown University, 10-7, in non-conference, metal-bat action on Wednesday afternoon at North Campus Field. Kutztown (15-5) is ranked No. 5 in the most recent NCAA Division II Atlantic Region writers' poll.

The Golden Bears used three hits, an error, a walk, and a hit batsman to score five runs in the bottom half of the first inning. Felician (9-13) answered with four runs, with the benefit of just one base hit, in the top of the second. After the Golden Falcons loaded the bases with one out on three walks, Jay Collazo (Wall Township, NJ) was hit by a pitch, Mickey Zudoyni (Holmdel, NJ) drew a walk, and Gary Lavoie (Hillsborough, NJ) hit a sacrifice fly. Jimmy Simpson (Biscayne Park, FL) capped the rally with a run-scoring double.

An RBI single by Felician junior Kevin Whitehead (Tonawanda, NY) in the third plated Mike Farrell (Lincroft, NJ), who had doubled, to tie the game. Kutztown scored a single run in the fourth, but the Golden Falcons again knotted the score in the sixth when Whitehead doubled, advanced to third base on a wild pitch, and scored on a Korey McGuiness (Jackson, NJ) groundout.

However, the Golden Bears took the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth with three runs on three hits and an error off of left-hander Jack Fowler (Shrewsbury, NJ) (2-1), the third of five Golden Falcon pitchers. Cody Montz (Schuykill Haven, PA) doubled home the go ahead run, the first of three consecutive two-out run-scoring hits.

Kutztown tacked on a run in the eighth on consecutive two-out triples. Felician put its first three runners on base in the ninth, scoring a run on a throwing error and bringing the tying run to the plate, but Golden Bear reliever Jason Henderson (Douglassville, PA) recovered to retire the next three hitters, the game ending with Whitehead's long fly ball to the warning track in center.

Zudonyi, Simpson, and Whitehead (2 runs scored) each went 2 for 4 with an RBI for Felician. Chet Godfrey (Millville, NJ), pitching in relief of starter Jerry Vasto (Atlantic Highlands, NJ), allowed one run on two hits and struck out four in four innings.

Tom Neely (Philadelphia, PA) (2-0), the third of five Kutztown pitchers, picked up the win with two innings of one-run relief. He allowed two hits, struck out two and walked none. Shayne Houck (Boyertown, PA) went 4 for 5 with a triple and 3 RBI.