Golden Bears fall in PSAC title game

JOHNSTOWN, PA (May 1, 2010) -- The Kutztown University baseball team's bid for a seventh Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championship came up short as it dropped a 10-9 decision to California University of Pennsylvania at Point Stadium Saturday afternoon. (Boxscore) (Photo Gallery) (Additional Championship Coverage)

Cody Montz delivered a RBI single that tied the game, 9-9 in the top of the ninth inning. However, Cal got a two-out bloop hit that fell into rightfield to win the game.

Mike Dugan and Mike Kacelowiczhad three hits to lead Kutztown (37-12 overall).

Senior Adam Maini made his first start since March 8, going 7.2 innings with eight strikeouts. Maini worked himself out of several jams with a pickoff of a runner at second base in the third inning and he picked Kyle Bowser off first base in the eighth.

The Vulcans began the ninth with a single off Mike Bucklin. The following batter attempted a sacrifice bunt, but Bucklin jumped off the mound and got the lead runner at second. After a walk, Bucklin forced an infield fly for the second out. KU nearly took the game to extra's, but a Texas leaguer off the bat of Evan King fell into no-man's land between a trio of Golden Bears.

“We played pretty well,” said Kacelowicz. “We didn't get the break we needed in the end. That was one of the best played games I've seen in awhile on both sides, there is no shame in losing that game.”

Kacelowicz started off the top of the ninth for KU with a single of the netting in left field and advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt that went wide of the first baseman. Montz strolled to the plate with two outs and delivered a line drive to left field to score Kacelowicz.

The Golden Bears were fueled all game by the bottom part of the order. The six through nine hitters combined to go 7-for-15 with six runs scored and four RBIs, with three coming from Montz.

“Our team feeds off the top of the lineup,” said Kacelowicz. “It was huge for us today to have the bottom of the line up come through like they did. It was something special in the ninth inning when Cody got that hit. It was huge to comeback the way we did all game, it's what we've done all year. It is a great trait to have, especially in the postseason.”

“We expect everyone on our team to come to play,” said head coach Chris Blum. “Everything we do is a total team effort, it was great to see Cody come through the way he did for us.”

In every inning the Golden Bears scored in but one, the Vulcans countered with at least one of their own. California was led by Sam Dimatteo, the tournament MVP, who went 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and three runs scored.

Dugan looked like he was taking batting practice at the plate all day, spraying lasers all over the field. He ripped a single through the right side of the infield in the second inning and had an RBI single between short and third in the third inning. In the sixth, Dugan blasted a shot in the right centerfield gap, but it was tracked down.

With the Golden Bears trailing by one in the seventh, Dugan turned a routine single into a scoring opportunity with his hustle. He sent a line drive over the head of the shortstop and took second after the outfielder botched the pick up. Kacelowicz followed with an RBI single up the middle to knot the game at six.

Corey Buletza, who moved back to the leadoff spot the last two games, drove an outside pitch to right and a friendly hop bounced over the fielders head for an RBI triple in the eighth. Jared Frey singled in Buletza from third with a line drive to left field.

“I just stayed inside the baseball, said Buletza. “Two at bats last night and once earlier today I tried to do too much with an outside pitch and I struck out. In this at bat I went with the pitch and when I saw it got over his head I got on my horse.”

With the win, the Vulcans earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Regional tournament. The Golden Bears, who are ranked No. 1 in the region, should earn a bid during the selection show on Sunday May 9.

“We have yet to play a complete game,” said Buletza. “Once we put together a game where our hitting, pitching and defense come together we will be a tough team to beat.”

--KU--

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