WILSON, N.C. – The Kutztown University baseball team rebounded after a tough loss to West Virginia State on Mar. 11, coming away with a hard-fought 10-9 victory in a rescheduled game this afternoon against California (PA) University.
Collin Bishop (Laurel Springs, N.J./Highland Regional) delivered a productive offensive day, batting in the two-hole, leading KU with two hits, three RBI and three runs scored, adding a walk to reach base in three of four plate appearances. The three, four and five hitters for the Golden Bears,
Bo Rottet (Tamaqua, Pa./Tamaqua),
Ryan Cox (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell (St. Bonaventure)) and
Nick Lafferty (Croydon, Pa./Archbishop Wood), each had one or more RBI totaling the team's other four RBI combined.
After a scoreless first inning from both sides, the Vulcans got on the board first with an RBI-single with two outs in the home half of the second to take a 1-0 lead. Once Cal ended this early scoring drought, KU and California (PA) delivered a slugfest third inning paving the way for this high-scoring affair.
The Maroon and Gold batted in the top half of the third, loading the bases to jump start the offense, bringing Bishop to the plate. The Golden Bear third baseman smoked a bases-clearing triple, bringing home
Dariel Richardson (Reading, Pa./Reading),
Brady Carras (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville Area) and
Mike Villa (Scranton, Pa./West Scranton (Lackawanna)). Rottet notched his first RBI of the day, plating Bishop in the next at-bat to put KU up 4-1 headed into the bottom of the third.
The Vulcans wasted no time in responding in the bottom of the third, reclaiming the lead with five runs on five hits in the inning. Kutztown was retired in the fourth quickly and Cal came out swinging once again, bringing two more runs across to pull in front comfortably, 8-4.
KU took advantage of some Vulcan miscues to get itself back in the ballgame as Bishop reached base to begin the fifth inning and advanced into scoring position via a passed ball. Rottet then followed with a fly ball to right which was misplayed by the outfielder, allowing him to get to third base and bringing Bishop home. Rottet then joined Bishop in scoring in the fifth courtesy of the second Cal passed ball of the inning making the score 8-6.
A pitching change in the sixth proved exactly what the Golden Bears needed to see as they jumped all over the Vulcan pitcher early and often. Kutztown brought four runs across in the frame playing 'small ball' and using smart base-running to take advantage of its opportunity.
Zack Delp (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall) came all the way around after a walk via three wild pitches while on base. Another two calls to the bullpen produced similar results as Rottet walked in Bishop and Cox worked a free pass to bring home Carras to take a 9-8 lead. Lafferty added a sacrifice fly to score Bishop and KU picked up an all-important insurance run to go up 10-8 before the end of its half of the sixth.
With the Vulcans suddenly down two, Chris Wastchak led off the sixth with a solo home run to bring his team within one, but Cal ran out of gas down the stretch. The Kutztown bullpen held strong for the final three innings, nailing shut its third victory at the Collegiate Baseball Classic.
Anthony DeVito (Philadelphia, Pa./Central (Mercer County C.C.)) (1-1) took the win in a bounce-back appearance after taking the loss to WVSU, going 2.2 innings and give up two earned runs. Freshman
Stephen Wagner Jr. (Henderson, Nev./Boulder City (Western Oregon)) picked up his first collegiate save, entering the game with a two run lead in the sixth and going the distance. Wagner Jr. pitched four strong innings to cement the victory, giving up just three hits and one earned run while striking out four.
The Maroon and Gold (4-4) defeated two teams from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) during their four games at historic Fleming Stadium, going 3-1 overall and downing No. 4 Mercyhurst and Cal (PA).
KU will play its final game of its spring break trip at nearby Barton College at 2 p.m. tomorrow before heading back up the east coast to Kutztown.
