KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- The Kutztown University baseball team (18-12, 5-5 PSAC East) used a four-run eighth inning to comeback and defeat Shepherd (19-14, 6-7 PSAC East) 9-8 in chilly conditions at North Campus Field Friday afternoon. The win snapped a three-game losing skid and moved KU above Shepherd in the PSAC East standings for now.
The teams traded runs in the first two innings, with the Golden Bears having a 5-3 advantage after two. KU's bats went quiet in the middle frames of the game, while Shepherd kept its offense going. The Rams hit four home runs, scoring at least a run in the first seven innings to take an 8-5 lead heading into the eighth inning.
The Golden Bears quickly loaded the bases with only one out in the bottom of the eight. Ethan Martini (Trevose, Pa./Father Judge) then walked to drive home the first run of the inning, followed by a Gavin Moretski (Harleysville, Pa./La Salle College H.S.) hit-by-pitch which cut the Rams' lead to 8-7. Mitchell Peers (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown) followed that up with a two-RBI single through the left side of the infield to give KU the 9-8 lead.
The Rams did not go down easily in the top of the ninth. Tyler Cleveland (Pillow, Pa./Upper Dauphin), who pitched brilliantly in relief for Jake Skrocki (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford), walked the first two batters of the innings, forcing Moretski onto the bump with two runners on and no outs. The senior right hander retired the side, striking out two en route to the save and the 9-8 KU win.
Antonio Rossillo (Warrington, Pa./Archbishop Wood) had himself a day at that plate, going 3-for-5 with three RBI. The senior catcher from Warrington, Pa. registered two doubles and his fifth home run of the season, a three-run blast in the second inning. Moretski and Peers both ended with two RBI and a hit each. Peers extended his hitting streak to eight games, the second longest by a Golden Bear this season.
The other RBI in the win came from Martini and Brennan Rozich (Oxford, Pa./Oxford). Jimmy Kerley (Indian Trail, N.C./Sun Valley) and Dominic Proietto (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) both had a hit.
On the bump, both starters went at least six innings. The story of the game for KU were relief pitchers Cleveland and Moretski. Cleveland went two innings, allowing no hits while striking out two. He earned the win while Moretski got the save, pitching an inning while striking out two. Brenden Lewis took the loss for Shepherd.
The teams will conclude the series tomorrow, Saturday, April 8 down in Shepherdstown, W. Va. That doubleheader will start at noon.
