BEL AIR, Md. – The Slippery Rock University baseball team lost to Kutztown University, 4-1, Saturday afternoon at the Hartford Sports Complex in Bel Air, Maryland.
 
For a second consecutive start Slippery Rock (2-3) pitcher Alex Pantuso dominated the competition. In six innings of work, he recorded a career-high 14 strikeouts while allowing no runs and just one hit. Through two starts this season, Pantuso has pitched 11 innings, surrendering no runs and one hit while striking out 21 batters.
 
Slippery Rock produced the game's first run in the top of the third inning when Luca Fuscardo brought home Mitchell Wood, who singled earlier in the inning, on a sacrifice fly. The RBI was Fuscardo's team-leading seventh of the year. 
 
Following SRU's run, Pantuso kept The Rock's lead secure with four more great innings in which he added nine more strikeouts to his career-high total before leaving the game prior to the seventh inning.
 
However, Kutztown (5-1) would rally back with four runs in the seventh inning. The three-run deficit proved too much for Slippery Rock to overcome as Golden Bear relief pitcher Matt Matricardi held SRU hitless over the final two innings to help Kutztown earn the 4-1 victory.
 
Wood, James Divosevic and Christian Porterfield led SRU at the plate with two hits apiece. In addition to his RBI, Fuscardo also stole one base and extended his hitting streak to five games on a 1-for-2, one-walk performance. Tyler Merigliano was responsible for The Rock's remaining hit.
 
Tyler Markovic (0-2) was charged with the loss after allowing four runs, only one of which was earned, in a third of an inning pitched. Shawn Holman came on for Markovic and proceeded to give up just one hit and one walk over 1.2 innings.
 
Matricardi picked up the win for Kutztown. KU starting pitcher Mike Kammerer lasted five innings, scattering six hits, one walk and one run. Alec O'Dell had a double and two RBI to pace the Golden Bears' batters.
 
Slippery Rock and Kutztown will finish the three-game series with a doubleheader on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for noon.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
To stay up to date with all that happens at The Rock, follow our official athletic communication accounts on Twitter (@Rock_Athletics), Facebook (RockAthletics), Instagram (RockAthletics) and Snapchat (@RockAthletics).