HTML Box Scores: Game 1 | Game 2KU vs. SU Series Stats SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Kutztown University baseball team plated two runs in the top of the seventh inning during Monday's opener to secure a 3-2, comeback win over Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division action. The Raiders bounced back in game two of the doubleheader, winning 6-2 over the Golden Bears from Ship's Fairchild Field.
Kutztown (12-10, 4-10 PSAC E) trailed 2-1 following the second inning of game one as Shippensburg (14-16, 10-6) pitcher Mark Curtis kept the Golden Bears off the base paths.
After tallying only one hit between the third and sixth innings, the Kutztown offense finally broke through in the top of the seventh. Pinch-hitter
Ricky Gorrell got the ball rolling with a leadoff single and advanced to second after a
Clay Sebesky sacrifice bunt.
Brady McNab plated Gorrell for the game-tying run with a double to left center, and
Ryan Cox followed up with a single up the middle to bring home the go-ahead score.
Pitcher
Matt Swarmer retired Ship's first three batters in the bottom of the seventh to clinch the one-run triumph for KU. Swarmer tossed the first complete game of his career with six strikeouts and one earned run. The junior improves to 3-3 on the year from the mound.
Brandon Martinez hit an RBI single in the second inning to score
Ben Eppley for KU's first run of the day.
In game two, Shippensburg set the tone early with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first. The Raiders tallied 10 hits off of KU's six-man pitching staff and never gave up the lead.
Travis Kreitz launched his second home run of the season in the fourth inning to get the Maroon and Gold on the scoreboard. KU initiated another possible comeback attempt in the top of the seventh with the bases loaded and no outs, but Ship's reliever Josh Kutchey entered the game and worked out of the jam. Martinez notched his second RBI on the day to close out the scoring.
Bobby Reddick took the loss after giving up two earned runs in the opening inning. Ship's starter Rich Michaud pitched five innings to earn the win, while Kutchey was credited with the save.
Martinez, McNab, and Gorrell led the way with two hits each, with Martinez accounting for two of KU's five RBI on the day. Shippensburg's Jimmy Spanos and Jake Kennedy each went 3-for-4 in the nightcap.
The Golden Bears return to action on Wednesday, April 8 for a non-conference game at Wilmington starting at 3 p.m.
