NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Kutztown University baseball team finished runners-up in the Builder Invitational after falling in the championship game to Bloomsburg University 17-10 at War Memorial Stadium Sunday.
 
The Golden Bears (3-6) were able to get it as close as 9-8 after a four-run top of the seventh, but couldn't make up anymore ground in the hard-fought effort.
 
Bloomsburg jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first, before Kutztown battled back with one run in the second to make it 3-1.  BU pushed it to 7-1 after five, before Kutztown pushed across three runs in the sixth to make it 7-4.  Bloomsburg answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning to extend its lead to 9-4.  KU had its strong-seventh inning to cut the lead to one before Bloomsburg pulled away.
 
Alec O'Dell (Edgewood, Md./West Chester Bayard Rustin (Harford C.C.)) continued his hot-streak to open the season, finishing the day 2-for-5 with two runs scored and three RBIs.  His three-run shot, his third of the season, got the score to 9-8 before Bloomsburg extented its lead for good.  Brady McNab (Hatboro, Pa./Archbishop Wood (Frederick C.C.)) went 1-for-4 with a run scored and RBI.  Kevin Sell (Mertztown, Pa./Brandywine Heights) went 1-for-1 with two RBIs.  Nick Lafferty (Croydon, Pa./Archbishop Wood) finshed the day 1-for-3 with an RBI and run scored.  Zach Schram (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North (Mercer County C.C.)) and Derian Sarlat (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township) also added RBIs in the losing effort.
 
KU finished the tournament with a record of 3-2, with its only losses coming at the hands of Bloomsburg. 
 
Five players had multiple RBIs for the Huskies (6-2).  Joey Casselberry finished the day 4-for-6 with four runs scored and two RBIs.  Ryan Kirman went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a team-high three RBIs.
 
The Golden Bears head down to Wilson, N.C. Friday, March 4 for spring break.  Kutztown starts it eight-day stay with a game against Clarion University at 6 p.m.  KU plays nine games in total during the up-coming trip.