HTML Box Scores: Game 1 | Game 2 BLOOMSBURG, Pa. – Freshman
Ryan Cox tied the game with a two-run single in the seventh inning, and senior
Brandon Martinez went 4-for-5 and drove in the game-winning runs in the eighth on Saturday to lead the Kutztown University baseball team to a 5-3 road win over Bloomsburg University in eight innings, giving KU pitcher
Paul Piromalli the complete game victory. Kutztown dropped the nightcap 4-0 at Bloomsburg's Danny Litwhiler Field.
Kutztown and Bloomsburg also announced on Saturday that the teams will make-up their previously postponed doubleheader on Tuesday, April 14 at Kutztown's North Campus Field at 1 p.m. The Golden Bears (13-11, 5-11 PSAC East) needed to overcome a 3-0 deficit in the opener against the Huskies (7-13, 6-10).
Thomas Romano hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth to cut the deficit to 3-1, but KU found itself down to its final two outs in the seventh inning. KU loaded the bases that including hits by
Ricky Gorrell and Martinez (bunt single) and a walk by
Brady McNab, to bring Cox to the plate with a chance to win the game.
On the first pitch he saw, Cox ripped a single to center field to score Martinez and
Clay Sebesky and tie the game at 3-3. McNab was thrown out trying to go first-to-third, and a groundout the following at-bat ended the inning.
Martinez came up clutch in the eighth inning. With two outs in an inning that was extended due to a Bloomsburg fielding error, Martinez ripped a double down the left field line to score Gorrell and
Brandon Hickey, who doubled to get on base, to give Kutztown the 5-3 lead.
The four-hit game was Martinez's first of the year and fifth of his career. He scored a run and stole a base as well in the opener.
Piromalli shut down the Huskies for the final three innings in his second complete game of the season. He retired the final 11 batters he faced and retired the side in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings. With 114 pitches and 82 strikes, he tallied nine strikeouts with no walks while allowing six hits.
In his last three starts, Piromalli has combined for 26 strikeouts (8.7 per start).
Bloomsburg pitcher Tyler Hill suffered the loss with 6.2 innings of work. He was pulled after Cox tied the game in the seventh, and finished with eight strikeouts and three walks.
Fellow Huskies pitcher Ryuta Amaike shut down Kutztown in the nightcap. In his first win of the year, he allowed six hits and threw four strikeouts in a complete game effort.
For Kutztown, pitcher
Pat Flynn last 3.1 innings after allowing all four runs and seven hits.
Cameron Mathis did a fine job in relief with 2.2 scoreless innings while allowing three hits.
Kutztown travels to Philadelphia University tomorrow, Sunday, April 12, for a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m., before it faces Bloomsburg again on Tuesday.
