KUTZTOWN, Pa. (April 11, 2011) – It wasn't the desired result that the Kutztown University baseball team wanted, but it will gladly take a doubleheader split over being swept any day of the week.
After dropping the first game, 8-3, the Golden Bears had to fight and claw to win the nightcap, 6-3, to earn a split with Mansfield University in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division game Monday afternoon at North Campus Field.
It wasn't easy as the Mountaineers put the first two runners on base in the seventh inning with nobody out, but the Golden Bears were able to finish the game. Dominick Ruscitti (Washingtonville, NY/Washingtonville-Newbaugh/Dominican College) got the final three outs to preserve Trent Mertz (Kutztown, PA/Kutztown)'s six-inning gem in which he allowed three runs and struck out five batters.
With eight conference games remaining, Kutztown is currently on the outside looking in as the PSAC playoffs approaches. Kutztown (17-13 overall, 7-9 PSAC East) trails Shippensburg (14-17, 7-5) by four games in the loss column for the No. 4 seed. However, the Red Raiders still have weekend series against East Stroudsburg, Millersville, and Mansfield, so the Golden Bears are very much alive for a playoff berth.
One thing is for sure, nothing will be easy for the reigning NCAA Division II Atlantic Region champions as April draws to a close. The Golden Bears have two series remaining against West Chester and Bloomsburg. While the Golden Bears' big hitters still have enjoyed their moments this season, shortstop Cody Montz (Schuylkill Haven, PA/Schuylkill Haven) has turned into a clutch performer.
After his career doubleheader at Mansfield Sunday after, Montz gave the entire Kutztown community a lift by ripping a two-run single in the bottom of the third inning that gave Kutztown a 2-0 lead. That was all the support Mertz needed. Even though Mansfield sliced KU's 3-0 lead to 3-2 in the fourth inning, nobody worried. Mike Dugan (Ocean City, N.J./Ocean City)'s fleet feet combined with some sloppy Mansfield fielding helped the Golden Bears add insurance runs.
Dugan highlighted the Golden Bears' three-run fifth inning by leading off the frame with a walk. Once he was on the bases, Dugan never stopped running until he was safely in the dugout. Dugan went to second base on an errant pickoff attempt. He continued to third after Mansfield's first baseman threw the ball into leftfield. Dugan finished his journey around the bases by coming home after another Mansfield error in which the leftfielder threw the ball away. That play energized the Golden Bears.
Later in the inning, Brad Stoudt (Topton, PA/Brandywine Heights) had a two-run single that scored Kyle Stoudt (Mertztown, PA/Brandywine Heights) and Gilbert Vega (Lancaster, PA/J.P. McCaskey). Kyle Stoudt (Mertztown, PA/Brandywine Heights) had two hits for the Golden Bears in the second game.
In the opening game, the big blow belonged to Mansfield's Mike Hartz, who slugged a grand slam that capped a five-run third inning for the Mountaineers. Kutztown was limited to three hits by Mountaineer starter Joel Worthington. Shayne Houck (Boyertown, PA/Boyertown), who was named PSAC East Player of the Week, drove in a pair of runs. The Golden Bears did load the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning in the opener.
Kutztown returns to action Tuesday afternoon when it hosts Washington Adventist in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
--KU--
