ABERDEEN, Md. – Welcome back to the diamond, Kutztown University baseball and welcome to the college game, Ethan Martini (Feasterville-Trevose, Pa./Father Judge). The freshman outfielder connected on a three-run homerun in the eighth inning to help KU defeat Frostburg State University 10-7 in game one of a two-game, doubleheader sweep Friday afternoon at Ripken Yankee Stadium in Aberdeen, Md.
 
Martini's shot broke open a 7-7 tie in extra innings and gave the Golden Bears the type of start they were hoping for in 2021. That momentum carried over into the nightcap as Kutztown completed the sweep with a 9-3 victory in game two.
 
In his first action as a collegiate player, Martini shined, finishing Friday's two-game tilt 4-for-6 with four RBI and three runs scored. He was on base seven times throughout the day, drawing three walks.
 
Gavin Moretski (Harleysville, Pa./La Salle College H.S.) also had a hot bat for the Golden Bears, finishing with five hits and five RBI on the day. Collin Bishop (Laurel Springs, N.J./Highland Regional) recorded four hits, two runs scored and an RBI. Antonio Rossillo (Warrington, Pa./Archbishop Wood) also had a multi-hit day, totaling two hits, two runs and an RBI.
 
Zach Peters (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) and Matt Ziminsky (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall) were credited with the wins on the mound. Peters came in to save game one, while Ziminsky started game two, throwing four strong innings, allowing just one hit while striking out seven batters.
 
Kutztown and Frostburg State will get together a second time for a two-game tilt on Sunday, March 7, from Aberdeen, Md. First game is set to start at 1 p.m.
 
Kutztown 10, Frostburg State 7
 
Martini wasted little time in helping his new team. His four RBI was a team-high and his two hits was tied for the most in the opener. His most important hit came in his last at-bat with his team down to their last out in the frame.
 
Following back-to-back outs to start the top of the eighth, Rossillo reached base and then moved over to second after a single down the left field line by Mike Piscotty (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./Hanover Area), the Feasterville-Trevose native stepped up to the plate and delivered in a huge way, ripping a three-run homerun to break the deadlock and give KU a 10-7 lead, one it would hold onto.
 
The Golden Bears found themselves trailing on the scoreboard for a majority of this one.
 
The Bobcats scored a run in each of the first two innings. Kutztown scored two of its own in the top-half of the fifth as Rossillo doubled in a run and Martini walked, sending a runner across home plate to tie the score 2-2.
 
Frostburg State took back the lead with a run in each of the fifth and sixth innings. But KU answered right away with a five-run, top of the seventh, highlighted by a three-run double by G. Moretski.
 
Leading 7-4 with three outs to go, the Bobcats rallied and staged a three-run comeback to send the game into extras.
 
Martini, Rossillo, Bishop and G. Moretski combined for eight of KU's 10 hits, recording two apiece.
 
Peters, KU's fourth pitcher of the game, recorded the win, going one inning of shutout ball, striking out two.
 
Kutztown 9, Frostburg State 3
 
Kutztown used an eight-run, fifth inning to break open the game.
 
KU trailed 3-0 after the second inning and was unable to muster up any kind of offense. But then the Maroon and Gold hit around in the lineup, bringing 12 batters to the plate, totaling five hits and scoring eight runs. Bishop had an RBI single, while Dominic Proietto (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) tallied a two-run double and G. Moretski capped the inning with a two-run triple.
 
Piscotty walked in the ensuing inning for KU's final run of the game.