KUTZTOWN, Pa - Kutztown University baseball wrapped up its season at home in a mid-week nonconference match up against Caldwell Wednesday afternoon at North Campus Field. The Cougars came out on top 9-3, taking a lead late in the game scoring seven of their nine runs in the last two innings.
Kody Cracknell (Jamison, Pa./Archbishop Wood) got the nod for the Golden Bears, throwing a season-high 3.1 innings, while striking out three and allowing only one run.
Caldwell led 2-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring on a solo home run in the first, with the second run coming on back to back hits in the fourth.
The Maroon and Gold got on the scoreboard in the bottom-half of the inning, scoring one run on two hits in the inning. Jason Wolff (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough) led off the inning getting hit by a pitch, and then made his way to third on a wild pitch and a single to center by Brandon Heere (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg). Wolff came in to score on a sacrifice fly to center by Brian Finn (Warrington, Pa./Springside Chestnut Hill Academy).
In the bottom of the seventh, the Golden Bears tied the game 2-2, first with Mike Kelly (Schwenksville, Pa./Pope John Paul II) reaching first on a single to left with one down in the inning. After an errant pick off attempt, Kelly made his way to third, coming in to score on a wild pitch.
The Cougars distanced themselves in their final two plate appearances, scoring seven runs on five hits combined in the two innings.
Kutztown fell short in the bottom of the ninth, scoring one run on two hits in the inning. Kelly reached on a single to third with one out in the inning. Gavin Moretski (Harleysville, Pa./La Salle College H.S.) doubled to left to drive in Kelly, before the Cougars worked their way out of the inning.
The Golden Bears finished the game with 10 hits from six different batters. Kelly, Gavin Moretski (Harleysville, Pa./La Salle College H.S.) and Austin Gromlich (Hamburg, Pa./Hamburg) all had multiple hits in the contest. Zach Moretski (Harleysville, Pa./La Salle College H.S.), Heere and Finn all added one hit of their own.
Gavin Grande (Newtown Square, Pa./Malvern Prep) took the loss for Kutztown, falling to 0-1 on the season. Matthew Hanzich is credited with the win for the Cougars improving to 2-1 on the year.
