READING, PA (April 19, 2010) – The Kutztown University baseball team took a break from its pursuit of a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) title to defeat Albright College, 18-4, Monday night in the teams' annual non-conference meeting at FirstEnergy Stadium, home of the Reading Phillies. (BOXSCORE)

With the victory, Kutztown improved its overall record to 31-9. The Golden Bears, ranked ninth in the latest Division II National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association Top 25 poll, pounded out a season-high 28 hits. Kutztown reached double digits in runs for the 18th time this season. This was the third time in its last four games; KU has scored at least 10 runs.

Eighteen players had at least one hit for Kutztown, which scored 13 runs over the first three innings. The teams combined to use 45 players. Jared Frey remained red-hot as he had his fifth straight multi-hit performance. Frey, Shayne Houck, Mike Kacelowicz, Todd Rubendall, Adam Maini, Brandon Shurr, Cody Montz, and Brad Stoudt all finished with at least two hits for the Golden Bears. Both of Miani's hits were during Kutztown's seven-run third inning.

Houck extended his hitting streak to nine games with a 2-for-4, four RBI effort. Hocuk ended his night with a bang by blasting his 14th home run of the season into the left field porch in the third inning. His shot traveled an estimated 370 feet as it landed between the second and third row of picnic tables.

Mike Dugan finished with three hits and drove in three runs. His first inning double drove in two runs. The Golden Bears began the game with five consecutive hits before an out was recorded.

The hitting proved to be contagious as Nathan Reed, who started as designated hitter, got his first career hit a day after hurling Kutztown's first no-hitter since 2004.

Freshman pitcher Brandon Shurr threw a pair of innings to earn the victory. He showed plenty of heart in the sixth inning. He issued three consecutive walks to load the bases with one out. However, Shurr retired the final two batters, including the last on a 3-2 pitch that caught the inside corner to escape the inning unharmed.

"This was a good team building experience for us," said Shurr, who was playing for the fourth time in his life at this stadium. "We had fun and it was a great day to be around my teammates. In the sixth inning, I just had to trust my catcher and throw strikes, which I didn't do in the early part of the inning."

Late in the game, catcher Matt Kulbacki made a defensive gem to prevent a run from a scoring. With an Albright runner on third base, Trevor Rosenberg fired a wild pitch that sailed to the backstop. As the Lion runner streaked down the third base line to home, Kulbacki hustled to the ball and fired a perfect strike to Rosenberg, who applied the tag for the third out of the seventh inning. Rosenberg also struck out two of the three batters he faced in the eighth inning.

The Lions had three extra base hits in the ninth inning. Jojo Fisher had a ninth-inning double for Albright (13-26). Fisher scored on Matt Pannella's triple. Shawn Walbert had a two-out double for the Lions. 
 

Kutztown returns to action Wednesday afternoon when it travels to Adelphi College for a non-conference game beginning at 3:30 p.m.

NOTES: Kutztown improved to 6-2 all-time against Albright...A complete photo gallery from this game will be posted by Wednesday afternoon.

--KU--