Box Score Kutztown 6, Pitt-Johnstown 2 (HTML Box Score) Photo Gallery BUTLER, Pa. – A six-run first inning led the Kutztown University baseball team to a 6-2 win over Pitt-Johnstown on Friday afternoon in the semifinals of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships at Kelly Automotive Park.
The Golden Bears (29-19) advance to the PSAC Championship game for the second time in three years and will face Millersville University on Saturday, May 3 at 12 p.m. The teams split their four-game series during the regular season.
In the six-run first inning, Kutztown erupted for more offense than Thursday's entire first round game against Seton Hill.
John Dockins (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson (Frederick CC)) led off with a single to center field and stole second base to put a runner on second with no outs.
Brandon Martinez (Lansdale, PA/North Penn) laid down a one-out bunt, and then stole second base to put two runners in scoring position with no outs. It was Martinez's school-record 34th stolen base of the season.
Kyle Stoudt (Mertztown, PA/Brandywine Heights) drove in the first run with a RBI single to right field, and was followed by a squeeze play by
Brandon Hickey (Mountville, PA/Hempfield) to score Martinez from third for a 2-0 lead.
Thomas Romano (Phoenixville, PA/Phoenixville) loaded the bases with a single, and
Brandon Cholish (Peckville, PA/Valley View (Lackawanna)) drove in two runs with a single to right-center field for a 4-0 lead.
Warren Stimpson (Blue Bell, PA/Wissahickon) laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Romano from third for a 5-0 lead, and following a sacrifice bunt from
Derian Sarlat (Reading, PA/Exeter Township) to put two runners in scoring position, Dockins notched his second hit of the inning with a single to score Cholish and cap the six-run inning.
From there, Kutztown pitcher
Pat Flynn (Pottstown, PA/West-Mont Christian Academy) led the way and retired nine in a row through the first out of the fourth inning off a tremendous diving play by Cholish at third base. Flynn pitched 8+ innings in the first postseason game of his career. He threw 112 pitches and allowed eight hits and two runs with five strikeouts.
Flynn was relieved by
Matt Swarmer (Mohnton, PA/Governor Mifflin) after allowing a leadoff infield single in the ninth inning. Swarmer allowed one hit in the final inning with one strikeout. He threw 16 pitches for his ninth save of the season.
Romano closed the day 3-for-4 at the plate and is hitting 5-for-6 in the tournament.
