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BLOOMSBURG, Pa. – Senior right hander Dominick Ruscitti (Washingtonville, NY/Washingtonville-Newbaugh/Dominican College) (Washingtonville, NY/Washington-Newbaugh) of the Kutztown University baseball team proved to be too much for Bloomsburg University Friday afternoon.  He kept BU scoreless through seven innings as KU won the opener, 3-0, at Litwhiler Field.  KU dropped the nightcap, 4-2.
 
The Golden Bears (16-5 overall, 4-2 PSAC East) have now taken three of the four meetings with the Huskies (11-9, 3-3) so far this season.
 
The complete game shutout is the first since 2010 for the Golden Bears.  The last time a Golden Bear accomplished the great feat was on April 18, 2010 when Nate Reed, now a member of the Seattle Mariners organization, hurled a no-hitter, also against Bloomsburg.
 
Ruscitti didn't let up a hit until the third inning and scattered just four Huskie base knocks throughout the game.  He also didn't let up an extra-base hit.  He struck out a KU career-high seven batters and allowed one walk.  The senior picked up his team-leading fourth victory of the season and leads the KU pitching staff with 20 strikeouts.  He also holds a 2.03 ERA in his five starts.
 
Sophomore second baseman Sean McCormick (West Chester, PA/Henderson) (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) went 3-for-3 in the opener with what turned out to be the game-winning hit in the second.  With two outs and a man on second, McCormick singled to score Matt Albaugh (Hatfield, PA/North Penn) (Hatfield, Pa./North Penn) and give KU the early 1-0 advantage.
 
Ruscitti and the Golden Bear defense held the narrow one-run lead for most of the game as Ruscitti struck out the final batter in both the third and fifth innings.  KU earned some breathing room with a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh.  With two outs and the bases empty, KU wore down Huskie starting pitcher Kyle Hunter and tallied five straight hits.  Brad Stoudt (Topton, PA/Brandywine Heights) (Topton, Pa./Brandywine Heights) and McCormick started the onslaught of singles to put two on with Kyle Stoudt (Mertztown, PA/Brandywine Heights) (Topton, Pa./Brandywine Heights) coming to the plate.  Kyle Stoudt (Mertztown, PA/Brandywine Heights) hit a shot the opposite way to left field to score Brad Stoudt (Topton, PA/Brandywine Heights).  Brandon Martinez (Lansdale, PA/North Penn) (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) drove in the third run for KU with a pinch-hit single through the left side to score McCormick.  Cody Montz (Schuylkill Haven, PA/Schuylkill Haven) (Schuylkill Haven, Pa./Schuylkill Haven) also singled in the inning.
 
Along with McCormick, senior Corey Buletza (St. Clair, PA/Pottsville) (St. Clair, Pa./Pottsville) also had a multi-hit game in the opener.  He was 2-for-3 at the plate with a pair of singles to center field in the fourth and sixth innings.
 
Todd Rubendall (Collegeville, PA/Methacton) (Collegeville, Pa./Methacton) had the only multi-hit game for the Golden Bears in their 4-2 setback in the nightcap.  He had a pair of singles.
 
The Huskies struck first with two runs in the first inning off a two out, two RBI single by Vince Smarrelli.  Smarreli led the Huskies with three RBI and 2-for-2 at the plate.
 
KU responded with two runs the following inning.  Rubendall led off the second with a single up the middle and would score on an RBI single from McCormick.  Brandon Shurr (Bernville, PA/Schuylkill Valley) (Bernville, Pa./Schuylkill Valley) drove in Kyle Stoudt (Mertztown, PA/Brandywine Heights) the next at bat on a sacrifice fly to right field to tie the game at two.
 
The bottom of the third proved to be the difference maker for Bloomsburg.  Smarreli drove in his third run of the game off a one out single up the middle off KU pitcher Damon Valloreo (Vincentown, N.J./Burlington CCC) (Vincentown, NJ/Senaca).  The Huskies also scored a run on an infield error.
 
Bryan Morris earned the win for the Huskies with 5.2 innings on the mound.  Vinny Voorhees picked up the save by sitting down the final four batters.
 
Valloreo threw all six innings for the Golden Bears.  Just three of his runs were earned, but he walked four batters while striking out three.
 
The two teams travel back to Kutztown tomorrow, Saturday Mar. 24, for the second half of the scheduled doubleheader.  With rain expected in the forecast, please check kubears.com on Saturday to see if any cancellations are made.  Live stats for the contest can be found by CLICKING HERE.