Box Score



HAMPTON, Va. – The Kutztown University baseball team won in dramatic fashion on Sunday.  Junior catcher Matt Albaugh (Hatfield, PA/North Penn) (Hatfield, PA/North Penn) hit a single in the bottom of the ninth to lift KU to a 3-2 victory over Bloomsburg University in the championship game of the Builder Invitational.
 
Kutztown (7-2) has now won the annual tournament seven of the last eight years.  KU has swept all five of its games in three of its last four trips to the Apprentice School.  With the win, the Golden Bears also stretched their winning streak to six.
 
Albaugh came to the plate in the ninth with two outs and the bases loaded.  With a 2-2 count, the junior connected on a single through the left side, driving in senior Cody Montz (Schuylkill Haven, PA/Schuylkill Haven) (Schuylkill Haven, PA/Schuylkill Haven) to win the game.  It was Albaugh's only hit of the game and it couldn't have come at a bigger time.
 
Despite the loss, Bloomsburg (2-3) tried to set the tone early with a pair of runs in the first inning.  It took Kutztown five innings to get on the board.  Freshman Travis Kreitz (Gilbertsville, PA/Boyertown) (Gilbertsville, PA/Boyertown) put KU in a good position to plate its first run with a triple.  Junior Brandon Shurr (Bernville, PA/Schuylkill Valley) (Bernville, PA/Schuylkill Valley) knocked in Kreitz the following at bat.
 
Down 2-1 in the seventh inning, Brett Hauck (Kutztown, PA/Kutztown) (Kutztown, PA/Kutztown) hit a pinch-hit single to lead off the inning.  After being sacrificed over to second base, sophomore Kyle Stoudt (Mertztown, PA/Brandywine Heights) (Mertztown, PA/Brandywine Heights) tied the game with a two-out single to score Hauck.  Stoudt and Montz each had multi-hit games for Kutztown.
 
The KU comeback wouldn't have been possible without the tremendous pitching performance from two of its hurlers.  Junior Damon Valloreo (Vincentown, N.J./Burlington CCC) (Vincentown, NJ/Senaca) got the start in the championship game.  He went five innings and allowed just one earned run in the first inning.  He let up three hits and struck out two Huskies. 
 
Senior Trent Mertz (Kutztown, PA/Kutztown) (Kutztown, PA/Kutztown) relieved Valloreo in the sixth and closed out the game for KU with four innings of scoreless ball.  He allowed just one hit and picked up his second win of the season.
 
“Our team has shown a great work ethic and attitude in the early part of our season,” KU head coach Chris Blum said.  “All of our guys have a shot to play in every game, and I saw a lot of fight and determination on the field today.”
 
Senior Matt Kline got the start for the Huskies.  He threw six innings while allowing one run and striking out five.  Jarrod Kramer was 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI single in the first.
 
The Golden Bears return to action on Mar. 12 for three games over Spring Break.  KU will travel to Catawba College, Shaw University, and Virginia State University on consecutive days before heading into conference play on Mar. 16.