Box Score



Kutztown 5, Saint Rose 4 (HTML Box Score) | Series Statistics
 
SUTHERLAND, Va. – The Kutztown University baseball team scored four unanswered runs and used a pair of relievers to hold the lead and complete the three-game sweep over the College of Saint Rose with a 5-4 victory on Sunday afternoon at the Dinwiddie Complex.
 
The Golden Bears (7-1) trailed 3-1 after five innings. They responded with a run in the sixth, two runs in the seventh to take the lead, and one run in the eighth to build their lead to 5-3. They were six outs away from the three-game sweep over Saint Rose (4-13).
 
Freshman Matt Matricardi (Dresher, PA/Upper Dublin) pitched 1.1 innings of shutout relief and handed the ball over sophomore Matt Swarmer (Mohnton, PA/Governor Mifflin) midway through the seventh in hopes of earning the elongated save. Swarmer's only flaw was a leadoff home run on his second pitch of the eighth inning that brought the score the 5-4.
 
Saint Rose fought to the finish with two singles in the bottom of the ninth, but a pop-up to shortstop ended the game and sealed Swarmer's third save of the season and second in as many games. He pitched 2.2 innings and threw 51 pitches with a pair of strikeouts. It was his longest outing of relief in his career.
 
Junior outfielder Brandon Martinez (Lansdale, PA/North Penn) had a career-high four hits for the first time of the season and third time of his career. It was part of a 4-for-5 effort on Sunday.
 
Freshman Brandon Cholish (Peckville, PA/Valley View (Lackawanna)) was the spark and key contributor that helped plate Kutztown's two runs in the seventh, both of which came with two outs. Ricky Gorrell (Royersford, PA/Spring-Ford) opened the inning by reaching on a fielding error by the Saint Rose first baseman. Three batters later with two outs, Cholish scored Gorrell with a double to left center field to tie the game at 3-3. It was his only hit of the game.
 
During the next at-bat, Cholish used his legs to cause havoc for Saint Rose. He stole third, and as the throw went past the third baseman, it allowed Cholish to score the go-ahead run and give Kutztown a 4-3 lead.
 
Senior Kyle Stoudt (Mertztown, PA/Brandywine Heights) started on the mound for KU and pitched five innings. He allowed one earned run on 87 pitches with six strikeouts.
 
Along with Martinez, fellow junior Warren Stimpson (Blue Bell, PA/Wissahickon) had a multi-hit game with a 2-for-5 outing.
 
The Golden Bears continue their spring break trip with five games over three days this week. They play next on Tuesday, March 18 in a single game at Barton College. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.