MILLERSVILLE, Pa. -- The Kutztown University baseball team (10-6, 0-1 PSAC East) started the game strong, but ultimately couldn't find enough run support to overcome No. 8 Millersville (19-4, 3-0 PSAC East) in a 9-2 loss to the Mauraders in KU's PSAC East opener Friday afternoon at Cooper Park.
Jake Skrocki (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford) got the start on the bump for KU and held the potent Maurader offense at bay, allowing only two runs in the first four innings of the game. After an impressive performance in the doubleheader against Lincoln (Pa.) during the week, Jason Wolff (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough) kept his momentum going at the plate, notching an RBI single in the top of the fourth to make it 2-1 Millersville after four.
The Mauraders eventually found their grove at the plate, putting two runs across in the fifth and three in the sixth to extend the lead to 7-1. In the top of the eighth, Gavin Moretski (Harleysville, Pa./La Salle College H.S.) ground into a fielder choice, which scored Ethan Martini (Trevose, Pa./Father Judge) to make it a 7-2 game. Millersville responded with two more runs in the bottom half of the inning to extend the lead to 9-2, which it held on to for the remainder of the game.
Skrocki went 5.2 innings for the Golden Bears, allowing six hits and seven earned runs while striking out three. He took the loss for KU. Trevor Leverington (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown) and Tyler Cleveland (Pillow, Pa./Upper Dauphin) both saw action in relief, allowing a combined four hits and only one earned run. Carson Kulina started for Millersville and went five innings, allowing three hits and one earned run, while striking out five. He improves his record to an impressive 6-0 with a 1.13 ERA.
At the plate, KU only registered four hits. Three of KU's hits were for extra bases. Moretski and Antonio Rossillo (Warrington, Pa./Archbishop Wood) both had doubles, while Martini hit a triple in the top of the eighth. The Golden Bear's other hit was Wolff's RBI single in the fourth inning.
The Golden Bears and Marauders conclude their three-game series with a doubleheader tomorrow, Saturday, March 18 at North Campus Field. First pitch is slated for noon.
