WEST LAWN, PA (May 14, 2010) – Shayne Houck (Boyertown, PA/Boyertown) busted out of his slump and Adam Maini (Macungie/Emmaus, PA) pitched 5.1 innings of inspired relief to help the top-seeded Kutztown University baseball team stave off elimination in a 9-5 win over Mansfield University in the consolation bracket of the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional on Friday morning on Owls Field at Ted Palka Park. (BOXSCORE) (Tournament Central Page)
The Golden Bears (38-13) took their first lead of the tournament with a four-run ninth inning.
The ninth inning rally began with a single to right by Mike Dugan (Ocean City, N.J./Ocean City) and walk to Mike Kacelowicz (Orwigsburg, PA/Blue Mountain). Jeff Kistle (Sandyston, N.J./Kittatinny) dropped a sacrifice bunt and reached safely as the pitcher's throw pulled the second baseman off the bag at first.
Brett Wigder (Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) then found himself in familiar territory in the ninth inning with bases loaded. The only difference was it was the top of the ninth and there was nobody out. A day after grounding out to end the game in a 4-3 loss to California, the junior second basemen dropped a two-run single over the drawn in infield to put Kutztown ahead, 7-5.
“Coach and I talked before the at bat and he told me to pick a pitch that I wanted to hit,” said Wigder. “I waited for a fastball and when I got it I just tried to put the bat on the ball. Once I hit it I knew that it was going to get over the heads of the infielders.”
Houck came up just short of a grand slam in the ninth and had to settle for a sacrifice fly after Mansfield rightfielder Seth Tressler made an amazing diving catch while tumbling into the fence. Houck entered on a 2-for-12 slump over the past three games, but regained his form with a 5-for-5 day. It was Houck's first five-hit effort of the season.
After singles in each of his first four at bats, Houck sent an eighth-inning two-out, 0-2 off-speed pitch 400-plus feet to help Kutztown draw even with the fifth seeded Mounties at 5-5. The blast also helped swing the momentum into the Golden Bears favor.
"I think after that home run, everyone got hope and got some fire in them," said Houck. "In the ninth inning we just came out and had good at-bats. The error on the pitcher really helped. We just went with it, and the intensity really came alive in the ninth after that home run."
Kutztown head coach Chris Blum called upon Maini, a warrior that he wanted out there once any trouble arose. The right-hander took the hill with one out and two runners on base in the fourth inning, sporting a freshly trimmed moustache that looked like Tom Selleck in the movie "Mr. Baseball." After hitting the first batter he faced, Maini received some defensive help from shortstop Mike Kacelowicz (Orwigsburg, PA/Blue Mountain).
The Mounties Kevin Miller lined a shot, but a fully extended Kacelowicz snagged the ball out of midair and flipped to Wigder to easily double off Jon Taddeo.
The right-handed Maini was determined to prolong his senior season in the maroon and gold.
"I knew it could be my last time out there, so I gave everything I had and wasn't holding anything back,” said Maini. “I knew if I just threw my game we could live to play another day.”
He allowed just three hits and struck out five batters, but had a bit of misfortune in the only run he allowed.
After a single by Matt Hamilton, Maini fooled Miller with a swing and a miss but the pitch went into the KU dugout and Hamilton advanced two bases to third. Mike Hartz singled between short and third to take a brief 5-4 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. Maini then got Chris Coleman to hit a sharp linedrive, which James Quigley (Bensalem, PA/Bensalem) snatched out of the air and fired to first base for another inning ending double play.
“The defense today played really well today,” said Maini. “No complaints for about them, everybody did their jobs. I was a little wild the last few times I was out there, but I seemed to get it together towards the end. Overall this is a great team win for us.”
Wigder and Gilbert Vega (Lancaster, PA/J.P. McCaskey) added some pop at the bottom of the Golden Bear lineup for a run in the fifth inning. Wigder one hopped the 360 foot sign along the left field line for a double, in what he calls the furthest ball he has ever hit. Vega followed with a double of his own to plate Wigder and tie the game, 4-4.
The Mounties took advantage of KU miscue and added three runs in their half of the first inning. A leadoff walk and a Golden Bear error on a possible double play grounder gave Mansfield two early base runners. Hartz had an RBI single and then starting pitcher Tyler Persun (Mount Joy, PA/Donegal) got the double play he was looking for.
But designated hitter Dan Chevalier drove a 3-2 pitch off the scoreboard in leftfield in a hurry to build the early lead.
However, the resilient Golden Bears battled right back with three in the top of the second. Corey Buletza (St. Clair, PA/Pottsville) had an RBI single to right to score Wigder. Vega scored on a passed ball and Houck drove home Buletza for the first of his three runs batted in.
Mansfield's Justin Garcia overcame 11 hits by the Golden Bears in his six innings of work. He allowed four runs – three earned – and had one strikeout.
The Golden Bears helped out their opponent for a second straight game with their inability to get runners in scoring position in to score. After leaving 14 runners on base in against California, the Golden Bears stranded 13 in the win.
Kutztown has a number of scenarios as they try to fight through the consolation bracket on Saturday. The Golden Bears will be playing at 2:30 p.m. on Owls Field at Ted Palka Park with their opponent to be determined. Check back with www.kubears.com for more information.
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