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READING, Pa. – The Kutztown University baseball team erupted for four-run innings three times, and freshman pitcher
Zach Peters (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) pitched four no-hit, shutout innings, as KU held on to defeat Albright College in the Baseballtown Diamond Classic Monday night from FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading.
Four Golden Bears (19-17 overall) contributed double-digit RBI nights, including three from
Ryan Cox (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell (St. Bonaventure)) and two each by
Mike Villa (Scranton, Pa./West Scranton (Lackawanna)),
Dariel Richardson (Reading, Pa./Reading) and
Collin Bishop (Laurel Springs, N.J./Highland Regional). Cox and Bishop led the charge with two hits apiece, while Villa, Richardson,
Bo Rottet (Tamaqua, Pa./Tamaqua) and
Evan Musto (Exeter, Pa./Wyoming Area) all had a hit to round out the eight total hits for KU on the night. Musto,
Mike Weber (Oxford, Pa./Oxford Area) and
Nick Lafferty (Croydon, Pa./Archbishop Wood) each had an RBI.
Peters pitched four innings of relief ball, allowing no runs and no hits in picking up the save, his first on the season.
Garrett Alread (Victor, N.Y./Victor (Northampton C.C.)) recorded the victory, pitching the fifth and allowing just one hit for his first win on the year.
The win is the seventh in a row in the series for Kutztown, and ninth in a row since the 2008 season (no game was played in 2011). The last three games have been decided by one run.
It did not take long for the two teams to get onto the scoreboard, as they combined to score eight runs (four each) in the first inning. KU had RBI hits by Cox, Richardson and Bishop, with Cox ripping a two-run triple to the deepest part of the ballpark, his first three-bagger of the season and second of his career.
KU added another four-spot in the third on just one hit, but were helped out by two walks and two hit-batters. Weber, Musto, Lafferty and Villa all collected RBI in the inning. Musto was the lone runner to reach base via a hit. It was the fourth RBI of the season for Musto and third for Weber.
To continue with the trend, the Maroon and Gold crossed home plate four times in fifth. This four-run spurt proved to be pivotal as it gave KU the lead back after trailing 11-8 after the Lions (11-22) scored seven times in two innings prior (top fourth and fifth). After Albright got the leadoff batter out in the fifth, KU had the next four batters reach base, three of which were singles from Rottet, Villa and Cox. Richardson (sacrifice fly) and Bishop (single), along with Villa and Cox each recorded RBI in the inning.
Cox, Villa, Rottet and Richardson scored twice, and Bishop, Weber, Lafferty and
Zack Delp (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall) all came across the plate once for KU. Junior pitcher
Michael Hunter (Mertztown, Pa./Brandywine Heights (Marist)) got the call for his first career at-bat, as head coach
Chris Blum penciled him into the starting lineup as the designated hitter.
All-in-all there were 13 walks and five hit batters.
Kutztown has its final non-conference regular season game Wednesday, May 2 at 6 p.m. when it travels to take on Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia at 6 p.m.
