STROUDSBURG, Pa. – The Kutztown University baseball (25-17, 11-10 PSAC East) dropped both games of a doubleheader against East Stroudsburg (33-10, 14-7 PSAC East) Friday afternoon at Creekview Park.
ESU took the first game of the afternoon 10-1, before besting the Golden Bears 7-5 in game two. Jason Wolff (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough) had a spectacular day at the plate over the two games, going 5-for-7 with two RBI. Cole Regn (Berlin, N.J./Eastern Regional) also registered multiple hits in both contests.
The race for a spot in the PSAC Tournament will come down to the final weekend of the regular season. KU, who now occupies the fifth spot, will face off against rivals West Chester, while Bloomsburg, who moves into fourth for the time being, will take on No. 7 Millersville.
The Golden Bears are back in action on Tuesday, May 2 against Chestnut Hill. It will be the third and final meeting of the season between the two non-conference foes. That single game will start at 3 p.m. at North Campus Field.Â
Game 1: East Stroudsburg 10, Kutztown 1
The Golden Bears struggled in the first game of the day, only mustering five hits while committing three errors in a 10-1 loss.Â
The Warriors scored early and often, taking a 5-0 lead after four innings. ESU exploded for five more runs in the bottom of the fifth to make it 10-0. The Golden Bears plated their only run of the game in the top of the seventh via a wild pitch, which scored Brian Finn (Warrington, Pa./Springside Chestnut Hill Academy).
Jason Wolff (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough) and Cole Regn (Berlin, N.J./Eastern Regional) both went 2-for-3 at the dish, with Wolff having two doubles. Joey Pettinelli (Broomall, Pa./Marple Newtown) was the other Golden Bear with a hit.
On the bump, Tom Reisinger was awarded the win for ESU. Dominic Proietto (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) got the start for KU and took the loss, while Gavin Grande (Newtown Square, Pa./Malvern Prep) also saw action on the bump for KU.
Game 2: East Stroudsburg 7, Kutztown 5
Game two was a closer affair, with the Golden Bears showing great resiliency in the later innings, falling just short of a comeback in a 7-5 defeat.
ESU got the scoring going early, holding a 5-0 lead after five innings. Antonio Rossillo (Warrington, Pa./Archbishop Wood) got KU on the board in the top of the sixth, singling to score Wolff which made it 5-1.Â
The Golden Bears suffered a setback in the bottom of the sixth, with ESU's Victor Cruz being awarded a home run despite everyone thinking it was a ground-rule double. The Warriors tacked on another in the sixth to make it 7-1.Â
KU refused to go away. A wild pitch scored Wolff in the top of the eighth to make it 7-2. Another wild pitch in the top of the ninth scored Cole Regn (Berlin, N.J./Eastern Regional) before Wolff knocked home two RBI to make it a 7-5 game. ESU was able to stave off the comeback and record the third out a batter later to hold on for the win.Â
Wolff ended the game 3-for-4 with two RBI, a double, and a walk. Rossillo and Regn both had multi-hit games, with Rossillo recording an RBI. Mitchell Peers (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown) and Joey Pettinelli (Broomall, Pa./Marple Newtown) were the other Golden Bears with a hit, while Pettinelli walked twice.
On the bump, Brent Francisco earned the win for ESU while Zach Male (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford) took the loss for KU. Tyler Cleveland (Pillow, Pa./Upper Dauphin) also saw action for the Golden Bears.Â
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