KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- Jimmy Kerley's (Indian Trail, N.C./Sun Valley) two-run home run highlighted a seven-run outburst over the first two innings and Kutztown fended off a late rally by Chestnut Hill to emerge with an 8-6 non-conference victory Tuesday afternoon at North Campus Field.
The Golden Bears, which overcame an 8-0 deficit to beat West Chester in game two of their PSAC East doubleheader yesterday, nearly found itself on the other end of the spectrum as Chestnut Hill scored six unanswered runs after falling behind 7-0.
Joey Pettinelli (Broomall, Pa./Marple Newtown) provided a key insurance run in the bottom of the seventh when he singled in
Brennan Rozich (Oxford, Pa./Oxford) and
Dominic Proietto (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) shut the door with a 1-2-3 ninth, lifting KU to its second straight win.
The late drama was unforeseen after the Maroon and Gold (5-11) erupted for seven runs over the first two innings to take a commanding lead.
Kerley pummeled a 2-2 pitch from Griffin (4-8) starter Ben Bradt up onto the hill beyond the left field fence for his third homer of the season and
Cole Regn (Berlin, N.J./Eastern Regional) added a two-run single that plated
Jason Wolff (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough) and Proietto to make it 4-0 in the first. Regn's hit chased Bradt from the game after he registered just one out.
Michael Pascoe, who started at designated hitter for Chestnut Hill, moved to pitcher and was next to take a shot at the Golden Bears' lineup. Kutztown jumped on Pascoe early with
Ethan Martini (Trevose, Pa./Father Judge) drawing a walk,
Michael Burns (Levittown, Pa./Harry S. Truman) singling and Wolff slapping an RBI single to right to make it 5-0.
Proietto added an RBI double and
Cole Regn (Berlin, N.J./Eastern Regional) a sacrifice fly to push the Bears' lead to 7-0.
Michael Lennon (Harleysville, Pa./North Penn) started and allowed three runs over four innings for KU. The redshirt sophomore blanked Chestnut Hill in three of his four frames, only running into trouble during a three-run third.
Cody Barberio (Green Lane, Pa./Quakertown) also threw four innings in relief during a planned bullpen game. He struck out four while also allowing three runs.
A two-run home run off the bat of Aiden Myers pulled the Griffins within 7-6 in the seventh but Barberio retired the next four batters he faced before Proietto shut it down in the ninth with a pair of strikeouts.
Eight of the nine starters for Kutztown recorded at least one hit and
Colin Kelly (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge) drew two walks. Wolff was the lone Golden Bear with multiple hits, finishing 2-for-5.
Myers was 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and three runs batted in to lead the CHC offense. Bradt suffered the loss with four runs allowed (three earned) in the first inning.
Kutztown continues a seven-game homestretch with non-conference doubleheaders against PSAC West member Pitt-Johnstown this Friday and Saturday at noon.
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