KUTZTOWN, Pa. – On the same day Kutztown University climbed in the national rankings, the KU baseball team announced a pair of schedule changes Monday afternoon for the upcoming week.
 
KU's doubleheader on Wednesday, Apr. 11 against Lincoln University (Pa.) has been cancelled.  The game against the Lions will not be made up.
 
The cancelled game will be replaced by a non-conference matchup with Penn State Berks on Thursday, Apr. 12 at 3:30 p.m.  The road contest will be a single-game affair set for nine innings.
 
The Golden Bears (21-9 overall, 8-4 PSAC East) remain fourth in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Atlantic Region poll released Monday afternoon.  However, the NCAA regional poll released later this month will play the deciding factor in regional playoff seedings.
 
In the national rankings, KU jumped five spots in this week's Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll, sliding into 25th this week.  For the complete CBN Top 30, click here.

Kutztown's pitching staff holds the best ERA in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) at 3.16.  Its top starter Dominick Ruscitti (Washingtonville, NY/Washingtonville-Newbaugh/Dominican College) (Washingtonville, NY/Washingtonville-Newbaugh) is the individual leader in the conference with a 1.65 ERA in 32.2 innings.  He is 5-1 on the mound with 25 strikeouts.
 
Junior Tom Neely (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Ryan) (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) holds the team's best ERA out of the bullpen this season.  In 18.2 innings, the left hander has allowed just two earned runs for a 0.96 ERA.  Sophomore Jason Henderson (Douglassville, PA/Daniel Boone) (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) leads KU and is tied for fourth in the PSAC with three saves.
 
Neely and senior Trent Mertz (Kutztown, PA/Kutztown) (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown) each have three wins on the mound.  Mertz has struck out 23 batters in 28 innings and holds a 2.89 ERA. 
 
Senior Shayne Houck (Boyertown, PA/Boyertown) (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown) is one of five players in the PSAC batting over .400 this season.  In 95 at-bats, he has 38 hits, 29 runs, and has knocked in 26.  He is also second in the conference with a .517 on base percentage.  Houck's 11 doubles and five home runs this season have helped him become the KU all-time leader in the respective career categories.
 
Junior catcher Matt Albaugh (Hatfield, PA/North Penn) (Hatfield, Pa./North Penn) is hitting a career-best .383 at the plate.  He is third on the team with 19 RBI's and has 23 hits with a .467 slugging percentage. 
 
Cody Montz (Schuylkill Haven, PA/Schuylkill Haven) (Schuylkill Haven, Pa./Schuylkill Haven) has been a threat on the base paths.  He is 12-for-12 in stolen base attempts in 2012 and is 29-for-33 in his career.
 
KU returns to the diamond after a seven day layoff on Tuesday, Apr. 10. It hosts Wilmington University (Del.) at North Campus Field for a single-game affair starting at 3 p.m.  Live stats can be accessed by clicking here.
 
 
NATIONAL COLLEGIATE BASEBALL WRITERS ASSOCIATION
DIVISION II ATLANTIC REGION TOP 10
April 9, 2012

Rk    School (#1 votes)                    W-L    Pts.    Prev.
 1.    West Chester, Pa. (7)             25-3    115     1
  2.    Seton Hill, Pa. (4)                   27-7    112     2
  3.    Mercyhurst, Pa.                       25-9      96     3
  4.    Kutztown, Pa.                          21-9      78     4
  5.    California, Pa.                         21-13   72     5
  6.    Shippensburg, Pa.                23-15    61     6
  7.    Shepherd, W. Va.                   22-11    47     9
  8.    Winston-Salem St., N.C.      27-16    34     8
  9.    Gannon, Pa.                            20-14    12    10
T10.    East Stroudsburg, Pa.        19-14      9     7
T10.    Bloomsburg, Pa.                 19-15      9     RV

Dropped out: None.

Also receiving votes: West Virginia Wesleyan (19-12) 6 points; Slippery Rock, Pa. (18-17-1) 4 points; Millersville, Pa. (19-16) 1 point.