Box Score



STROUDSBURG, Pa. --  Zach Moretski (Harleysville, Pa./La Salle College H.S.), who recently registered his 100th career hit, added three more to his career total, Friday, as the Kutztown University baseball team dropped its PSAC East series opener at East Stroudsburg, 6-1.

The Warriors scored six unanswered runs through six innings to take control and though Moretski (3-for-4) and Mike Kelly (Schwenksville, Pa./Pope John Paul II) (2-for-4) had modest success against ESU starting pitcher Chase Nowak, the visiting Golden Bears were held scoreless until the ninth.

Moretski led off the second with a single and the Bears had a pair of runners on with two down, but Nowak got Brennan Rozich (Oxford, Pa./Oxford) to ground out, ending the threat.

East Stroudsburg (27-13, 8-8 PSAC East) went in front shortly thereafter when Jack Rothenhausler connected for a two-run homer to left off Kutztown starter Paul Moretski (Harleysville, Pa./Lansdale Catholic). The Warriors increased their lead to 5-0 in the fifth as CJ Peechatka provided a two-run single and closed their scoring in the sixth on a solo shot from Tommy Dunleavy.

Despite scattering six hits through the first eight innings, Kutztown couldn't break through. Colt Narciso (Norristown, Pa./Pope John Paul II) led off the eighth with a double to the gap in right and moved up to third on a Kelly ground out. Nowak dug in with only one out, getting Ethan Martini (Trevose, Pa./Father Judge) to foul out and Gavin Moretski (Harleysville, Pa./La Salle College H.S.) to go down swinging for the last of his 12 strikeouts on the day.

The Golden Bears (9-28, 4-15 PSAC East) started the ninth with some success against a tiring Nowak. Zach Moretski (Harleysville, Pa./La Salle College H.S.) doubled to right center and went to third on a wild pitch, while Antonio Rossillo (Warrington, Pa./Archbishop Wood) worked a nine-pitch walk that spelled the end of Nowak's outing.

Mitchell Peers (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown) brought home Zach Moretski (Harleysville, Pa./La Salle College H.S.) on a fielder's choice and Jason Wolff (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough) added a single, but the Bears were unable to put forth any additional runs.

Nowak's final line included 8.0 innings pitched, seven hits allowed, one run, two walks and the 12 strikeouts. He threw 125 pitches, improving to 5-0 on the year. Paul Moretski (Harleysville, Pa./Lansdale Catholic) took the loss, allowing six runs on 11 hits in 5.1 innings while striking out three. Gavin Grande (Newtown Square, Pa./Malvern Prep) fired 2.2 innings of scoreless, hitless relief, also striking out three.

Dunleavy was 3-for-4 to lead the Warrior offense. Peechatka and Rothenhausler each finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

Kutztown will try to bounce back tomorrow when the Warriors visit North Campus Field for a set beginning at noon. Prior to game one, the Golden Bears will honor their 2022 seniors Kody Cracknell (Jamison, Pa./Archbishop Wood), Brandon Heere (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg), Zach Moretski (Harleysville, Pa./La Salle College H.S.) and Jacoby Pate (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Township).