Box Score



Kutztown 1, Winston-Salem State 0 (HTML Box Score)
 
NCAA Tournament Central

VIDEO: Game-Winning RBI | Photo Gallery
 
WEST LAWN, Pa. – Scoreless through the first eight innings, pinch-hitter Carson Baker (Lehman, PA/Lake-Lehman (Lackawanna)) led off the top of the ninth with a single through the left side, setting up Kyle Stoudt (Mertztown, PA/Brandywine Heights) to hit the game-winning sacrifice fly with one out and the bases loaded, giving the Kutztown University baseball team a 1-0 triumph Friday evening over Winston-Salem State University on Day 2 of the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regionals from Owls Field.
 
"Baker always has the chance to shoot a gap and maybe even knock in a triple on this big field," Head Coach Chris Blum said. "Some of the other guys were struggling, so we gave him the chance to lead off and get on base."
 
Junior Warren Stimpson (Blue Bell, PA/Wissahickon) replaced Baker on first as a pinch-runner, advancing to second off a John Dockins (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson (Frederick CC)) sacrifice bunt. Ricky Gorrell (Royersford, PA/Spring-Ford) waited out a full count for a walk, and Brandon Martinez (Lansdale, PA/North Penn) loaded the bases with a single to the third basemen. After eight pitches, Stoudt sent a fly ball out to left field, giving Stimpson enough time to tag up and cross home safely.
 
"Going in I just wanted to hit the ball hard somewhere," Stoudt said. "Once I got two strikes on, I knew I just had to get the ball in play somehow and force them to make the play."
 
Kutztown (31-20) senior Colin Holmes (Ewing, NJ/Ewing) turned in a tremendous performance on the mound for the Golden Bears, facing all but two WSSU Rams' (36-19) batters on a day in which he thought he might not see the field.
 
"He (Holmes) came off yesterday saying he was pretty low on gas, assuming it was from being sick over the past few days," Blum said. "I asked him today if he could get us through five and he said absolutely, so we went with it."
 
Through 8.1 scoreless innings, Holmes struck out two and surrendered only four hits.
 
"I felt good," Holmes admitted. "When we got here today, I told Coach that I felt ready to throw again, even though they were leaning the other way. He told me as long as I could get through five, I was good to go."
 
Sophomore Matt Swarmer (Mohnton, PA/Governor Mifflin) was called in from the bullpen in the ninth to work his magic yet again, resulting in his 10th save of the season and 13th of his young career. His 10 saves ranks second in KU history for a single-season, trailing Mike McCardell's record mark of 13 set in 2006. For career saves, Swarmer is now tied for third all-time. Swarmer recorded a strikeout, a walk, and a fly out to close out the victory.
 
In an evenly-played, well-pitched game all around, KU slightly came out on top in the hit department, 5-4. Baker, Dockins, Martinez, Travis Kreitz (Gilbertsville, PA/Boyertown), and Thomas Romano (Phoenixville, PA/Phoenixville) recorded a hit a piece for the Maroon and Gold. Kreitz was kept busy all day out in right field, recording a solid six putouts on everything that was hit his way.
 
Rams pitcher Scott Wells receives the loss after one run, four hits, and two strikeouts in 8.1 innings. Devin McLemore faced four KU batters in the ninth.
 
Kutztown will play Shepherd University tomorrow, Saturday, May 17 at 4:30 p.m.