Box Score



California (PA) 12, Kutztown 7, (HTML Box Score)
 
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University baseball team fought back with three unanswered runs before a rain delay in the eight inning, but was unable to overcome a six-run deficit as it fell to California University (PA) 12-7 Friday morning in elimination game of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships at Point Stadium.
 
The Golden Bears (32-16) now hope for one of three at-large selections in the Atlantic Regional tournament set to start next week. The Selection Show for the NCAA regional tournament will be web-streamed on NCAA.com on Sunday, May 12 at 10 p.m.
 
Three players had multi-hit games for the Golden Bears. Senior catcher Matt Albaugh (Hatfield, PA/North Penn) led the way with a 2-for-5 performance and two RBI coming in the ninth inning. Joe Peters (Kutztown, PA/Kutztown (Delaware Technical CC)) and Thomas Romano (Phoenixville, PA/Phoenixville) had two hits apiece for KU.
 
Junior right-hander Jason Henderson (Douglassville, PA/Daniel Boone) got the start for Kutztown. After allowing a leadoff walk, he threw two wild pitches that scored the runner on a single through the left side. The Vulcans then loaded the bases with one out, Henderson struck out the next batter swinging, but a softly hit single up the middle gave California (PA) a 3-0 lead after one.
 
Kutztown immediately responded and took advantage of an infield error on California (PA) that could have been a potential inning-ending double play. With two runners on, senior Todd Rubendall (Collegeville, PA/Methacton) had an RBI single up the middle to cut the deficit to two. Following a bunt single by Romano to load the bases, Brandon Shurr (Bernville, PA/Schuylkill Valley) hit a single that dropped in down the right field line to bring the Golden Bears within one at 3-2.
 
The Vulcans scored two unearned runs in the second. The leadoff hitter hit a groundball to third and was originally ruled out, but the play was overturned and ruled catcher's interference. A triple that bounced off the bottom cement portion of the outfield wall scored the runner with two outs, and a double off the screen above the wall in left field gave California (PA) back a three-run advantage at 5-2.
 
Senior J.R. Seader (Piscataway, NJ/Piscataway/ Maryland-Baltimore County) relieved Henderson in the third and despite striking out two batters, California (PA) plated three runs on five hits in the inning to take an 8-2 lead through three.
 
Senior Jordan Garcia (Mount Carmel, PA/Fleetwood) took over on the mound in the fourth and retired the Vulcans in order for the first time of the day. He also pitched a scoreless fifth inning. Kyle Petty hit his second triple of the game in the sixth inning as a sacrifice fly led to a 9-2 lead for California (PA).
 
In the seventh, Kyle Stoudt (Mertztown, PA/Brandywine Heights) and John Dockins (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson (Frederick CC)) drove in runs as Kutztown trailed 9-4.
 
Jordan Gottshall (Birdsboro, PA/Exeter Township) threw a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom half of the seventh including a strikeout to end the inning. Kutztown had an opportunity with two on and one out after a routine fly ball turned into a catcher's inference call on California (PA) to put the runner on first. However, an inning-ending double play ended the potential threat for KU as it trailed 9-5 heading into the bottom of the eighth.
 
Heading into the bottom half of the eighth inning, the game went into a rain delay at 10:35 a.m. as the tarps were brought onto the field with Kutztown trailing California (PA) 9-5. The delay lasted one hour, 22 minutes and resumed at 11:57 a.m.
 
Unfortunately for the Golden Bears, California (PA) came out of the delay aggressive at the plate with two base hits followed by a three-run homer by Kyle Petty over the high fence in left field. He finished the day 4-for-5 with two triples and a homer.