CARY, N.C. (May 26, 2010) - Senior Matt Kulbacki finished a triple shy of the cycle, but it wasn't enough to keep the Kutztown University baseball season going. The Golden Bears were knocked out of the NCAA Division II National Baseball Championship after falling 6-2 to Franklin Pierce University on Wednesday at the USA Baseball Complex. (BOXSCORE)
Kulbacki ripped a full count solo homerun to lead off the top half of the seventh inning. But the Golden Bears were unable to get anything going the rest of the seventh as Brian Maloney struck out the next three batters.
“I talked to Houck before the game asking what to expect from the pitcher,” said Kulbacki. “He said 'Dude, it's the same kid we faced the end of the first night.' Right after that I went back to the other night when I was at bat with a 1-2 count and the lights went out. Once I got out there and I said to myself that this kid is not going to beat me.”
Kulbacki also notched an RBI double to score Shayne Houck, who led off the fourth inning with a double to right center, and added a one-out single in the ninth to finish 3 for 4.
“All of the guys, we got along so well," said Kulbacki. When I was a freshman, the seniors taught me so much what it means to be a senior and I hope that portrayed that to the younger guys.”
Adam Maini got the start, going six innings and striking out five. He gave up an unearned run in the first inning and two in the second. Maini shut down the Ravens over the course of the next three innings, but in the bottom of the sixth he was tagged for three runs.
Nick LaCroix led the Raven offense with two hits and two RBIs, while Derek Ingui had two doubles and one run batted in.
Maloney, who took the loss on Sunday against Kutztown, pitched 8.1 innings and scattered eight hits to get the win. He struck out seven batters and walked only three, while giving up two earned runs. Rob Nicholas got the final two outs of the ninth to pick up his 10th save of the season.
Jordan Garcia pitched a scoreless seventh, giving up just one hit and striking out two. Mike Bucklin and Ryan Cassidy combined to throw a perfect eighth inning.
The senior group of Kulbacki, Maini, Bucklin, Cassidy, Mike Kacelowicz, Jared Frey and Nathan Reed exchanged hugs with each other and teammates following the loss and were welcomed with applause from their families and fan faithful when leaving the dugout.
“It's been great to play for such a winning program,” said Kacelowicz. “Hopefully the guys can keep it up. It has been real special, especially ending my career down at the national championship. Not a lot of guys can say they've had a special winning tradition like this. These guys are my family. We are all like brothers, it helps you get through the tough times in baseball.”
The Golden Bears finished the season with their fifth trip to the national tournament in 10 years and had their seventh straight 30 win season. Kutztown also won the Atlantic Region title and further cemented itself as a perennial powerhouse among the nation's elite.
“It was another incredible year in the book of Kutztown University and Kutztown baseball program,” said head coach Chris Blum. “These guys have taken it to the high standard that the people before them have set. It was just another wonderful year, especially for the seniors to get this far.”
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