Box Score 1 | Box Score 2



Game 1: Kutztown 4, East Stroudsburg 3 (HTML Box Score)
 
Game 2: East Stroudsburg 10, Kutztown 0 (HTML Box Score)

Spring Sports Fest Photo Gallery
 
KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Pitcher Colin Holmes (Ewing, NJ/Ewing) and the Kutztown University baseball team pulled out an exciting 4-3 victory over East Stroudsburg University on Friday in the opener of a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East doubleheader from North Campus Field. In the nightcap, the Warriors figured out the KU pitching staff as they went on a hitting spree to secure a 10-0 win.
 
In the opener, ESU had one last shot in the seventh with Holmes on the mound to close it out for KU. The Warriors were able to put a man on third with two outs. Chris Knott was next up to the plate, who leads or is near the top of the conference in multiple batting categories this season. Facing a full count, Holmes fired in the final pitch, forcing Knott to strike-out swinging to bring home the victory for the Golden Bears.
 
Friday's doubleheader was one of the focal points of PSECU's Spring Sports Fest. With home baseball and softball games being played, fans came out to North Campus Field and along with enjoying some afternoon baseball, indulged in some additional food options such as funnel cake, water ice, and free hot dogs and popcorn for all students, staff and faculty.
 
Kutztown (24-19, 12-14 PSAC E) will square off against the Warriors (28-15, 14-12 PSAC E) again tomorrow in East Stroudsburg, with playoff implications on the line. If ESU wins one of the two games, they will secure the final spot in the postseason. If Kutztown can grab both victories, they will take the No. 4 spot. Shippensburg University currently holds the same record as KU, but would be eliminated by a tiebreaker in any case that plays out.
 
Both teams got off to a hot start in the game one, scoring three runs a piece in the first inning. After Brandon Cholish (Peckville, PA/Valley View (Lackawanna)) and Brandon Martinez (Lansdale, PA/North Penn) caught the ESU infield off guard with a casual double-steal, Kyle Stoudt (Mertztown, PA/Brandywine Heights) took ball four to load the bases. Brandon Hickey (Mountville, PA/Hempfield) seized the opportunity to smash a double to the left-field fence, bringing in all three KU runners.
 
The score stayed knotted up until KU was able to strike again in the bottom of the sixth. Martinez struck an infield single and Stoudt forced his second walk of the day. Thomas Romano (Phoenixville, PA/Phoenixville) threw down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners into scoring position. Brady McNab (Hatboro, PA/Archbishop Wood (Frederick CC)) saw his first action of the day as a pinch-hitter, sending out a sacrifice fly to bring the winning run across the plate.
 
Holmes and Brandon Shimo (Jermyn, PA/Lakeland (Lackawanna)), both seniors, were able to work out of some tricky jams against ESU's top-notch batting lineup. Shimo gave up eight hits with five strikeouts in the first 5.2 innings, with Holmes stepping in with one out left in the sixth to secure the win. Ryan Lubreski pitched a complete game for ESU, giving up three hits and four walks, while striking out four.
 
In the nightcap, the Warriors got the ball rolling in the second inning with three runs off of five hits. The momentum continued for ESU in the third, extending its lead to 9-0 off of five more hits and a KU fielding error. The away team would tally its final run in the fourth to put KU down 10-0.
 
Pat Flynn (Pottstown, PA/West-Mont Christian Academy), Mike Kammerer (Allentown, PA/Allentown Central Catholic), and Matt Matricardi (Dresher, PA/Upper Dublin) pitched the first four innings for the Maroon and Gold, giving up 11 hits and all 10 runs. It appeared the first-year pitchers for the Golden Bears were outmatched by the veteran presence and power of the ESU offense. Dave King (Tremont, PA/Minersville) and Eric Moul (Hanover, PA/South Western) closed out the final three innings. Matt Festa earned the win for ESU, striking out five in six innings-pitched.
 
Besides the opening inning in game one, the ESU pitching staff was pretty effective in keeping Kutztown off the bases. Stoudt was the only Golden Bear to accomplish a multi-hit day, going 1-for-1 in the opener and 1-for-3 in the nightcap.
 
Tomorrow's doubleheader at East Stroudsburg will begin at 1 p.m.