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KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Senior Shayne Houck (Boyertown, PA/Boyertown) (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown) of the Kutztown University baseball team achieved another milestone Friday as he broke the Kutztown all-time hits record as KU rolled to a pair of victories over Millersville University at North Campus Field.
 
The Golden Bears (20-6 overall, 8-2 PSAC East) took down the Marauders (14-14, 2-8) 6-2 in the opener, and held onto a 6-5 victory in the nightcap.  With the pair of wins, the 18th-ranked Golden Bears remain atop the Eastern Division.
 
Houck went 2-for-2 in the first game to tie Al Fitch's nine-year record of 231.  In his first at-bat in the second game, Houck shot a base hit up the middle to stand alone at No. 1.  Houck went 2-for-3 in the nightcap to extend his total hit count to 233.  Houck also holds the all-time record for runs scored (199), doubles (60), home runs (39), total bases (416), and batting average (.407).  With all the added exposure this season, Houck has continued to take his season game-by-game and keep his focus on the present.
 
“You won't see a difference in Shayne when he receives this type of recognition,” KU head baseball coach Chris Blum said.  “He handles things very, very well and that's just his personality.  He understands the game and stays grounded but most of all, he trusts his abilities and builds on it every day.”
 
The KU starting pitchers took over Friday and frustrated the Marauders all day.  Senior right hander Dominick Ruscitti (Washingtonville, NY/Washingtonville-Newbaugh/Dominican College) (Washingtonville, NY/Washington-Newbaugh) continued his phenomenal stretch of games with another gem in the opener.  Coming off a complete game shutout over Bloomsburg seven days ago, Ruscitti took a no-hitter through 3.2 innings before allowing a walk and a single to MU.  He threw six innings and let up just two hits on 93 pitches.  He struck out five batters and walked one in his team-leading fifth victory of the season.
 
Junior left hander Damon Valloreo (Vincentown, N.J./Burlington CCC) (Vincentown, NJ/Senaca) got the call from Coach Blum in the nightcap.  He got off to a shaky start with two earned runs in the top of the first, but settled in from the second inning on.  Valloreo took a 6-3 lead into the seventh inning, but was taken out of the game after hitting the opening batter.  He struck out seven on 104 pitches to pick up his first win of the season.
 
“Dom has now thrown two fantastic games for us now, and right now he's the guy we can count on to go out and give us a good game,” Blum said.  “Damon's gotten better every time he's taken the mound.  We had a small mix up in the first inning, but we fought back and got the win and that's what matters in the PSAC.”
 
KU maintained control in the first game from the start.  With two outs, sophomore first baseman Kyle Stoudt (Mertztown, PA/Brandywine Heights) (Topton, Pa./Brandywine Heights) cashed in on a single to left center to score Matt Albaugh (Hatfield, PA/North Penn) (Hatfield, Pa./North Penn) and Houck.  Stoudt finished the game 2-for-4 at the plate with three RBI's.
 
The Golden Bears tacked on four more runs in the third inning.  Senior shortstop Cody Montz (Schuylkill Haven, PA/Schuylkill Haven) (Schuylkill Haven, Pa./Schuylkill Haven) opened the inning with a single down the left field line, and would steal second to get into scoring position.  Montz scored off a sacrifice bunt from Houck that due to an error by the Millersville third baseman, would advance Houck to second and allow Montz to score without a throw.  Albaugh brought in Houck with an RBI single.  Stoudt and Brett Hauck (Kutztown, PA/Kutztown) (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown) also had RBI's in the inning.
 
Montz swiped two bags Friday and improved his flawless stolen base percentage to 11-for-11.  
 
Senior Brad Stoudt (Topton, PA/Brandywine Heights) (Topton, Pa./Brandywine Heights) has been on a tear at the plate as of late, earning him a starting spot in left field in both games.  He went 3-for-3 in the nightcap with a pair of RBI's to lift his season batting average over .300 (.302).  Brad Stoudt (Topton, PA/Brandywine Heights) is now 8-for-12 at the plate in his last four games.
 
“Brad has just caught fire these last couple of games,” Blum said.  “The way he is hitting right now, he has earned a spot in the lineup by producing every day.  Being a senior, he has fought through some tough times at the beginning, but he has kept working and kept getting better.”
 
As dominating as the opening win was for the Golden Bears, they would have to earn to sweep on Friday by overcoming a two-run deficit heading into the bottom of the first inning.  With two outs, freshman Travis Kreitz (Gilbertsville, PA/Boyertown) (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown) belted a triple to right center to score Houck, who hit his record-breaking single the previous at bat, from first base.  Kreitz scored off a fielding error.  Brad Stoudt (Topton, PA/Brandywine Heights) knocked in KU's third run of the inning with an RBI single up the middle.
 
The third inning played favorable to KU Friday.  It scored three runs in the third, including RBI hits from Brad Stoudt (Topton, PA/Brandywine Heights) and Brandon Martinez (Lansdale, PA/North Penn) (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn).
 
Millersville scored one in the fourth off an RBI double from catcher Ryan Chesler as the game would go scoreless until the seventh.  Jason Henderson (Douglassville, PA/Daniel Boone) (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) relieved Valloreo in the seventh with an inherited runner on first and no outs.  He allowed two runs off a Mike August single to right field.  MU put the tying run 90-feet away at third base, but Henderson forced Kurt Seiders to fly out to right field to help KU earn the come-from-behind victory.
 
“Our guys have shown that they will continue to battle back, no matter what the score,” Blum said.  “They didn't let the two early runs keep them down and they kept swinging the bats and attacking on offense.”
 
KU will look for two more on Saturday as it travels to Millersville for a second doubleheader.  First pitch is set for 1 p.m.