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Game 1 |
Game 2 MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – The Kutztown University baseball team and 20th-ranked Millersville University each picked up a sizable victories on Friday afternoon in the duos' Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division doubleheader from Millersville's Cooper Park. The home team won the opener, 7-1, while the Golden Bears took the nightcap, 5-1.
Kutztown, now standing at 16-15 overall and 7-13 in the PSAC East, is currently fixated in the No. 7 slot in the division, while the Marauders (29-9, 16-6) are perched atop the East. The two squads go at it again tomorrow on Kutztown's home field.
After surrendering seven runs in the opener, Kutztown pushed out to 4-1 lead after three innings in the nightcap.
Brandon Martinez and
Thomas Romano executed sacrifice flies in the first two innings, followed by a two-RBI home run from
Matthew Armour.
The Golden Bears tacked on an insurance score in the sixth. Romano was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out, allowing
Derian Sarlat to launch a sacrifice fly and plate
Ryan Cox.
Pat Flynn got the start and the win on the mound for the Maroon and Gold, striking out three batters in 4.2 innings of five-hit ball.
Matt Matricardi closed out the final 2.1 innings, facing eight batters with one strikeout.
In the opener, the Marauders slowly built a 5-0 advantage before capping off the 7-1 victory in the sixth. Kutztown had its chances late, but left at least one runner stranded in each of the final four innings.
KU's lone score in game one came in the top of the sixth on a bases-loaded fielder's choice.
Brady McNab, Cox, and Martinez all tallied singles, with
Brandon Hickey securing the RBI.
Paul Piromalli yielded eight hits and five runs - three earned – and struck out one in the loss as the starter.
David Brown faced 12 batters in relief.
Reigning PSAC East Pitcher of the Year Chris Murphy improved to 9-0 on the mound for the Marauders with a complete-game effort in the opener.
Kutztown's
Ben Eppley batted 2-for-3 in game one, while Cox and
Ricky Gorrell finished the day with three hits apiece. Gorrell led the Maroon and Gold with two stolen bases.
The Golden Bears will square off against the Marauders again tomorrow, Saturday, April 18, at KU's North Campus Field at 1 p.m.