GLENVILLE, W.Va. -- Sophomore pitcher
Zach Male (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford) continued to flash impressive strikeout numbers to start his 2022 campaign with a career-high nine Friday night, but Kutztown's offense couldn't get anything going in a 7-0 loss to Glenville State.
Calen Kampes hit a grand slam as part of a five-run seventh for the host Pioneers as they broke the game open for their eighth win in nine games. Shortstop Ryan Rodriguez was 5-for-5 (all singles) and knocked in two.
It was only a 2-0 game after five, thanks to Male, the righty from Royersford. Kutztown's (2-6) starter struck out the side in the first and followed it up by fanning a pair in both the second and third frames.
Glenville State scored the game's first run in the bottom of the second as Fabian Escalante doubled to lead off and Rodriguez brought him home with a single. The Pioneers added to their lead in the third when Male hit a pair of batters and Rodriguez collected his second RBI single in as many at-bats.
Male departed having allowed the two runs on five hits. His nine strikeouts were two more than his former career-high of seven set in his debut start this season at Chowan and three times in 2021.
Trevor Leverington (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown) got out of a jam in the sixth by striking out Trevon Smith and pinch-hitter Spencer Balckburn, but wasn't as fortunate in the seventh. Escalante walked, Rodriguez singled and Zach Morris sacrificed the runners forward, before Darius Barton was plunked to load the bases.
Kampes fell behind 0-2, but connected on Leverington's 1-2 offering, hitting a no-doubter over the left field fence for a 6-0 Pioneer lead.
The Golden Bears managed just five hits against a trio of Glenville State pitchers. Diego Tamariz dueled with Male for five innings, holding the Bears scoreless on three hits and three walks. He struck out 10 and picked up the win to improve to 3-0.
Tristain Gasset took over and tossed two scoreless innings and Nick Moore finished it off with a pair of hitless innings. In all, Glenville State pitching accounted for 15 strikeouts on the night.
Designated hitter
Gavin Moretski (Harleysville, Pa./La Salle College H.S.) was 2-for-4, while
Mitchell Peers (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown),
Jimmy Kerley (Indian Trail, N.C./Sun Valley) and
Antonio Rossillo (Warrington, Pa./Archbishop Wood) each had one hit. The Maroon and Gold did not record an extra base hit in the contest.
Kutztown will play its second of three games in Glenville this weekend Saturday at 6 p.m., when it faces Alderson Broaddus.
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