WEST CHESTER, PA (April 11, 2010) – After two days, nine hours and 28 innings of enthralling and entertaining baseball, Kutztown University leapfrogged West Chester University and into sole possession of first place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division following three wins in four games over its chief rival.

The 17th ranked Golden Bears punctuated a strong weekend by sweeping fifth-ranked West Chester, 9-7 and 7-4 in its heavyweight showdown Sunday afternoon at Serpico Stadium. (GAME 1 BOXSCORE) / (GAME 2 BOXSCORE)

Kutztown (27-7 overall, 11-5 PSAC East) leads the Golden Rams (28-9, 14-6) by one game in the loss column with two weekend series remaining against Bloomsburg and Millersville. West Chester has one weekend series remaining against Shippensburg. 

Kutztown has won 12 of its last 13 games. Since WCU cooled off the Golden Bears, 4-0 in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, the KU offense has been a nightmare for WCU pitchers, scoring 24 runs in its last three games.

The Golden Bears tortured West Chester's pitching staff in its two victories by posting a .321 batting average. Kutztown showed its resiliency in overcoming deficits in each game. In addition, sophomore Shayne Houck spooked the Golden Rams so much that he drew four walks and was hit by three pitches during the afternoon.

Proving it's far from one-man show, Kutztown delighted in displaying its depth, power, relief pitching and timely hitting throughout the sun-splashed afternoon. In addition, KU scored nine of its 16 runs on the day with two outs.

In the second game, the Golden Bears collected 12 hits. Every starter except Houck had at least one hit in the nightcap. Mike Kacelowicz and Jeff Kistle sparked the KU offense with two hits each. Both of Kacelowicz's hits were doubles. Mike Dugan, Matt Albaugh and Brad Stoudt each drove in a pair of runs for Kutztown.

Jordan Garcia earned the win in the opening game and Nathan Reed slammed the door with three scoreless innings. Kutztown's bullpen provided the pitching edge as it combined to pitch seven innings and allow one earned run and four hits over the two games. They also combined to strike out nine batters.

West Chester started the second game on fire by turning a pair of doubles and triples among its first four batters into a quick 2-0 lead. The Golden Bears didn't stay behind long. Albaugh quickly tied the game with a two-run, two-out home run to leftfield. Kutztown took the lead for good in the third inning with a three spot.

Kacelowicz started the rally with a leadoff double. After Houck was intentionally walked and Quigley was hit by a pitch, Dugan put Kutztown ahead, 3-2. Stoudt delivered a two-run single that helped the Golden Bears extend to a 5-2 advantage. West Chester scored two runs in the fourth inning to close to within, 5-4. That would be as close as the Golden Rams would get.

Dugan drew a bases loaded walk in the sixth inning and Kacelowicz delivered a RBI double in the seventh inning to help KU enjoy a happy bus ride back to Berks County.

In the opening game, Kutztown took advantage of West Chester's generosity. The Golden Bears rallied from two deficits to defeat the host Golden Rams.

Kutztown managed five hits but benefitted from eight walks to beat West Chester for the second consecutive game. The teams split a doubleheader Saturday at North Campus Field. The Golden Bears made the most of their five hits as three went for extra bases.

Trailing 3-0 with two outs in the third inning, the Golden Bear offense exploded thanks to walks to Kacelowicz, Jared Frey and Houck, who was hit by a pitch. Quigley came through with a RBI single that got KU on the board. Dugan was safe on an error, which allowed Frey to cross the plate with the second run. Kulbacki delivered a bases clearing double that gave Kutztown a 5-3 lead.

West Chester rallied to take a 6-5 lead in the fourth inning. However, the Golden Bears answered in their next at-bat in the top of the fifth inning. Frey and Houck opened the inning by drawing walks. Both players scored on Quigley's RBI single and a balk. After grabbing an 8-6 lead, Frey expanded Kutztown's advantage to 9-6 with a solo home run.

Mike Bucklin earned the win to improve his season record to 6-1 and Adam Maini collected his second save with a scoreless seventh inning. Bucklin struck out three batters in his 2.2 innings of work.

However, West Chester almost tied the game against Maini. The Golden Rams' Charlie Kelly hit a 370-foot foul ball down the leftfield line with two outs and one man on in the bottom of the seventh that would have tied it. Maini rebounded to strikeout Kelly to end the game.

Kutztown returns to action Monday afternoon when it visits Philadelphia University in a nine-inning contest starting at 3:30 p.m.

--KU--