SAVANNAH, GA (March 7, 2011) – The Kutztown University pitching staff has been nothing short of terrific during their first set of games in Georgia. Monday was nothing different as Trent Mertz (Kutztown, PA/Kutztown) shut down the Concord University hitters, leading Kutztown to a 6-3 win Monday afternoon at Pirate Field.
The Golden Bears (8-3 overall) entered Monday's game ranked 28th in the NCAA Division II Collegiate Baseball top 30 poll as they stretched their winning streak to three games.
Mertz, a junior right-hander who resides in Kutztown, struck out a career-high eight batters Monday while walking just one. This was Mertz's first start of the season as he threw six innings in his longest outing since 2009. He pitched five scoreless innings and allowed just five hits. His two earned runs came in his final inning on the mound as he earned the win for KU.
The KU bullpen would relieve Mertz in the seventh and wouldn't allow a hit from there on. Jacob Schnee (Saylorsburg/Pleasant Valley) took the mound in the seventh and threw one and a third innings with one strikeout. Fellow junior Jordan Garcia (Mount Carmel, PA/Fleetwood) earned the five-out save for KU, four of which were by strikeout. This is Garcia's first save of the season after having two in 2010.
All three starters in Kutztown's opening games in Georgia have allowed just two or less earned runs in their outings and have given KU a viable chance to win every time it takes the field. Jonathan Grosse (Bayport, NY/Bayport-Bluepoint) allowed one run in five innings of work on Saturday against West Liberty, and Trevor Rosenberg (Sweetwater, N.J./Oakcrest/George Mason) went six innings while letting up two earned runs in KU's dramatic 4-3 victory over California (PA) on Sunday.
“This was a pretty good day for the team,” said head baseball coach Chris Blum. “It is really a pleasure to see Trent do well on the mound for us and this is a big boost to our pitching staff, especially after Trevor's (Rosenberg) great game yesterday. We've had a chance over the past three games to get some of our young guys in the game and they are doing a great job for us.”
One of the greatest confidence boosters a pitcher can have is having some run support early in the game and that is exactly what Kutztown has done over the last three games. KU scored four runs in the second inning Monday, all of which coming with two outs. After Concord starter Devin Smith let up a pair of walks and a double to Brad Stoudt (Topton, PA/Brandywine Heights), freshman Sean McCormick (West Chester, PA/Henderson) came to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded with a chance to get Kutztown on the board for the first time. McCormick was able to make contact against Smith, hitting a groundball to the right side. Luckily for KU, the groundball bounced off Concord's second baseman's knee, sending the ball into shallow right field and scoring all three runners.
Stoudt finished the game 3-for-5 at the plate, but was not the only Stoudt to end the game with three hits. Stoudt's brother, Kyle Stoudt (Mertztown, PA/Brandywine Heights), a freshman infielder/pitcher, also ended the day 3-for-5 and came up big in the ninth inning with a double of his own.
With KU up 5-3 heading into the top of the ninth, the team knew that Concord was still in striking distance and getting an insurance run would help Garcia close out the game for Kutztown. Kyle Stoudt (Mertztown, PA/Brandywine Heights) got the final inning going with a leadoff double. James Quigley (Bensalem, PA/Bensalem) then moved Kyle Stoudt (Mertztown, PA/Brandywine Heights) over to third with a single of his own, which was followed by Mike Dugan (Ocean City, N.J./Ocean City) getting plunked at the plate, leaving the bases loaded for pinch-hitter Matt Albaugh (Hatfield, PA/North Penn). Albaugh cashed in for the Golden Bears, hitting a sacrifice fly which would score Kyle Stoudt (Mertztown, PA/Brandywine Heights) and give KU a comfortable 6-3 lead.
Kutztown finished the game with nine hits to Concord's five. Along with the Stoudt's finishing with extra-base hits, Shayne Houck (Boyertown, PA/Boyertown) and Anthony Knight (Wayne, PA/Radnor) also had a double Sunday.
“We are playing great as a team right now,” said Blum. “We hit the fundamentals hard last week, and this is where it all pays off. We were able to capitalize off a couple of opportunities today and I'm happy that we were able to execute under some pressure situations and get a win.”
The Golden Bears move into the second half of their spring break trip tomorrow as they go up against 22nd-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State at 2:00 p.m.
--KU--
