SUTHERLAND, Va. --The Kutztown University baseball team (2-1) played two all-around complete games, sweeping PSAC West foes Clarion (0-3) in a doubleheader at the Dinwiddie Sports Complex in Sutherland, Va. on Sunday.
The Golden Bears pulled out a close 4-3 victory in game one thanks to an Ethan Martini (Trevose, Pa./Father Judge) walk-off home run. Game two was a more dominating performance, highlighted by Jake Skrocki (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford) on the mound. KU bounces back in a big way after struggling against Tiffin on Saturday.
The Golden Bears are back in action down south next weekend in Cary, N.C. KU will face off against Frostburg State on Friday, Feb. 24 at 11 a.m. The Golden Bears are also set to face off against Clarion and Goldey-Beacom in Cary.
Game 1: Kutztown 4, Clarion 3
Ethan Martini (Trevose, Pa./Father Judge) was the hero for KU in game one. With the game tied at three entering the bottom of the seventh inning, the Trevose, Pa. native roped a ball over the right field wall to walk it off and secure the 4-3 victory for the Golden Bears.
The teams got the scoring going early in the contest. Clarion recorded two runs in the top half of the first, before a base-clearing double by Brian Finn (Warrington, Pa./Springside Chestnut Hill Academy) made it 3-2 Kutztown after one. From there, Dominic Proietto (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) locked it down on the mound. The senior right-hander went 4.0 innings, only allowing two hits and striking out six.
Gavin Moretski (Harleysville, Pa./La Salle College H.S.) entered the game in relief for Proietto in the fifth inning and was equally as dominant. He went 3.0 innings and struck out seven while only allowing three hits. He earned the win while Joe Rossi took the loss for Clarion.
Clarion's only other run came in the fifth inning through an RBI single by Daren Byers.
Martini ended the game 2-for-3 with the walk-off home run. In addition to his work on the mound, Moretski also went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and a run. Finn went 1-for-3 with his three RBI double in the first inning. Michael Burns (Levittown, Pa./Harry S. Truman) registered KU's other hit.
Game 2: Kutztown 8, Clarion 2
Jake Skrocki (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford) got the start in game two and pitched a gem for the Golden Bears. The righty from Royersford went 5.0 innings, striking out five while only allowing one hit.
KU's offense came primarily through Mitchell Peers (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown). The graduate student recorded a career-high four RBI on two home runs. Peers hit a solo shot in his first at-bat of the game, followed by a three-run homer, which was part of a five-run fifth inning for the Golden Bears.
Freshman outfielder Zach Tropiano (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) had himself a game at the plate, going for 2-for-2 with a double and his first collegiate RBI. Jimmy Kerley (Indian Trail, N.C./Sun Valley) notched two RBI, while Cole Regn (Berlin, N.J./Eastern Regional) also had one RBI. Brian Finn (Warrington, Pa./Springside Chestnut Hill Academy) had KU's other hit.
