Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Kutztown University Athletics

KUBears.com The Official Site of Kutztown University Athletics

Scoreboard

Baseball Tyler Schueck, Sports Information graduate assistant

Houck's heroics helps KU split with West Chester

KUTZTOWN, PA (April 10, 2010) - Shayne Houck crushed a two-out three-run home run in the fifth inning well over the fence in left to propel the Kutztown University baseball team to an 8-2 win in the second game to earn a split with West Chester. The Golden Bears fell 4-0 in the opener on Saturday afternoon at North Campus Field. (Game 1 boxscore) (Game 2 boxscore)

The No. 17 ranked Golden Bears trail No. 5 West Chester by one game in the loss column of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division standings. KU is 25-7 overall and 9-5 in the conference, while the Golden Rams sit at 28-7 overall and 14-4 in the PSAC East.

Houck remained patient in the batters box, as the Golden Bears trailed 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning in game two. Houck guessed correct when expecting an off speed pitch, sending the ball out of the park in a hurry and one hopping the outside of the KU softball teams fence.

"It felt real good once I hit it," said Houck. "The pitchers kept throwing me off speed pitches all day, I just stayed back and drove the ball."

Not only was the homer a pivotal momentum turner in the game, but it also tied Houck with John Rozich's single season home run record of 12, set in 1999.

"I've been hitting the ball hard this season," said Houck. "The record is a nice thing to have, but it's not my goal, the team and winning is more important to me. I wasn't going up to the plate trying to hit a homer, but I'm glad that I did."

Jared Frey knocked in Mike Kacelowicz with an RBI single up the middle a batter before Houck's blast. The run snapped an 11-inning scoreless drought to cut the West Chester lead to 2-1.

The Golden Bears tacked on four insurance runs in the sixth inning to build a six run cushion. Mike Dugan led off with a bunt single, Mike Bucklin singled and Cody Montz beat out an infield single to start the inning. Matt Kulbacki scored Dugan with a sacrifice fly to center, pinch runner Gilbert Vega and Montz came around to score after a throwing error on a Kacelowicz single. Frey capped off the scoring with a line drive single to right, his third hit of the game and second RBI.

“Tyler settled in and threw his game after the first inning,” said head coach Chris Blum. “The pitching got better throughout the day and we are confident knowing Maini is there in the back end.”

The opener was a pitcher's duel, with both working their way out of trouble. The Golden Bears loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the second, but Jordan Lehman got two strikeouts and a lineout to escape unharmed. The next half inning saw WCU load the bases with two out, however Jonathan Grosse forced a pop up to second and work out of the jam.

Dugan singled to start off the sixth and Bucklin recorded his third hit of the game with only one out, but Lehman stranded the runners with ground outs to end the inning.

The PSAC East foes will finish off their season, playing two at West Chester on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. with a lot on the line.

“It was a huge win for us today,” said Houck. “Hopefully the momentum and energy will carry over into tomorrow's games.”
 --KU--

 


Print Friendly Version

Sponsors