SAVANNAH, GA (March 6, 2011) – Andrew Otterberg (Wall Township, N.J./Wall Township)'s two–run homer in the top of the ninth inning was the determining factor as the Kutztown University baseball team defeated California (PA) 4-3 Sunday afternoon in the second game of its spring break trip.
KU entered the ninth inning down 3-2 and needed some clutch hitting from the middle of its lineup. Mike Dugan (Ocean City, N.J./Ocean City), batting in his usual five-spot in the lineup, started off the inning with a leadoff double. Matt Albaugh (Hatfield, PA/North Penn) then sacrificed, moving Dugan, the game-tying run, to third with one out. With Otterberg now at the plate, all he would have to do is get the ball to the outfield and Dugan would be able to score and tie the game. Otterberg certainly got the ball in the air as his line drive carried over the Grayson Stadium fence, giving KU the 4-3 advantage.
“It always feels good when you can help the team win,” said Otterberg, “but it feels great to get a game-winning hit late in the game. I hadn't had the greatest day up until that point, but you have to put all of that aside and focus on the current at bat. I came to the plate just trying to get the ball in the air, and thankfully it carried over the fence.”
This was Otterberg's first career home run in his sophomore year at KU.
One of the main reasons Kutztown (7-3 overall) was able to stay in the game was due to the performance of Trevor Rosenberg (Sweetwater, N.J./Oakcrest/George Mason). Rosenberg, a senior right-handed pitcher, got the start for the Golden Bears and was able to maintain his control and give KU a strong outing. He threw six innings, allowed two earned runs off four hits, and struck out three Cal batters. He also did not allow a steal.
“Trevor has been looking forward to this game for a while,” said head baseball coach Chris Blum. “When I told him he was going to get the start versus California, he was really anxious to take the mound and prove he deserved to be a part of this pitching staff. He had a terrific outing today and took us deep into the game against one of the top teams in the country.”
Rosenberg's six innings was a career-high in his first start of 2011. He was relieved by Tom Neely (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Ryan) in the seventh who allowed just two hits in his two innings of work. Neely picked up the win for Kutztown and also had one strikeout. Dominick Ruscitti (Washingtonville, NY/Washingtonville-Newbaugh/Dominican College), a junior transfer from Dominican College, got the save for Kutztown and struck out one batter.
Two Golden Bears had multi-hit games Sunday. Along with Dugan, who went 2-for-3 with his ninth inning double, was sophomore Todd Rubendall (Collegeville, PA/Methacton) who went 2-for-4 against the Vulcans. James Quigley (Bensalem, PA/Bensalem) and Albaugh each added a pair of RBI singles in the fourth inning as well. KU finished the game with nine hits to Cal's seven.
Kutztown got the taste of sweet revenge with the win as Sunday's game was a rematch of last year's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championship game where Cal defeated Kutztown 10-9. The Vulcans also got the best of Kutztown in the first game of the NCAA Atlantic Regionals by a 4-3 decision.
Tyler Zimm got the start for Cal (5-5) and went 7.2 innings. He let up two runs off seven hits and struck out four KU batters. He was relieved in the eighth by fellow sophomore Kyle Thomas who let up the Otterberg home run, picking up the loss for the Vulcans.
KU continues its six-game spring break trip tomorrow as it goes up against Concord University at 10:00 a.m. in hopes of stretching its winning streak to three games.
--KU--
