WEST LAWN, PA (May 13, 2010) – With bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth, the Kutztown University baseball team was unable to push across the tying run, resulting in a second straight one-run loss, 4-3, at the hands of California University of Pennsylvania. (BOXSCORE) (Tournament Central Page)
On Thursday afternoon, the loss came in the opening round of the NCAA Atlantic Regional held on Owls Field at Ted Palka Park. The Golden Bears will meet PSAC foe Mansfield Friday at 11 a.m. on Owls Field in an elimination game. Kutztown took 3 of 4 games from Mansfield in the regular season.
Just 13 days prior the Vulcans (33-16) celebrated a 10-9 victory over KU in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference title game in Johnstown, PA.
While most of the offense sputtered, junior Mike Dugan (Ocean City, N.J./Ocean City) peppered three singles to the outfield to pace the Golden Bears (37-13). Over the course of the game, the Golden Bears left 14 runners on base and missed several scoring oppurtunites. In the seventh, Shayne Houck (Boyertown, PA/Boyertown) got to third on a three base error to start the inning, but the Golden Bears could not advnace him the 90 feet necessary.
KU tallied all three of its scoring in the third inning. After James Quigley (Bensalem, PA/Bensalem) hit a sacrifice fly to score Corey Buletza (St. Clair, PA/Pottsville), Dugan delivered a two-out single over the first baseman's head to score Jared Frey (Mohrsville, PA/Schuylkill Valley). Each of Dugan's hits might as well have went for doubles, since he swiped second after each of them.
“He had a very distinct pickoff move,” said Dugan. “A lot of times it was either a short leg kick or a slide-step. When he pulled it back I knew he was going home, when he did that I just went for second each time.”
Senior Mike Kacelowicz (Orwigsburg, PA/Blue Mountain) followed Dugan with an epic at bat which featured foul ball after foul ball. He lofted a ball into foul territory that was out of the third baseman's reach thanks to the infield tarp. Kacelowicz fouled off a few more pitches before delivering a line drive to the right center gap to close within one.
The Golden Bears would not get any closer, however, as California work horse Randy Sturgill scattered only three hits the rest of the way.
Nate Reed overcame a shaky first few innings, but was never able to stay in a groove. In 6.2 innings of work, he surrendered just five hits, but his nine free passes ran him into a few jams. Reed got the first two outs to start the seventh inning before a double and back-to-back walks ended his afternoon.
Reliable left-handed Jordan Garcia (Mount Carmel, PA/Fleetwood) froze Sean Welsh with a fastball on the outside corner to leave the bases loaded. Garcia pitched two hit relief in the last two innings to keep the Golden Bears within striking distance.
With one out in the ninth, Sturgill was knocked out of the game following a walk to Quigley and a single to center by Dugan. Nick Schreiber entered for the Vulcans with a quick four pitch walk to Kacelowicz. After a ball to start the next batter, Schreiber received a gift with a foul out to first base.
Brett Wigder (Trumbull, CT/Trumbull), who entered the game in the top of the ninth, was the Golden Bears final hope. After working a full count, Schreiber came in with a fastball that caught Wigder on the hands and force a one hopper to Casey Teagarden at short.
Sturgill was most likely unable to clap his hands after the final out after throwing 172 pitches in his 8.1 innings of work, so he ran out and mobbed Schreiber with other teammates. The left-hander scattered nine hits and struck out eight Golden Bears to pick up the win.
Rightfielder Sam DiMatteo, who was the PSAC Tournament MVP, was the thorn in side of the Golden Bears after going 2 for 4 with two runs driven in.
DiMatteo's second inning line drive to left center looked like a gapper with triple written all over it, but Shayne Houck (Boyertown, PA/Boyertown) came up an eyelash short of making an inning ending diving catch. Houck was able to keep DiMatteo to a double and Reed quickly retired Evan King to end the inning.
The Golden Bears will have their work cut out for them as they fight through the consolation bracket, but they are not ready to call it a season.
“We can't stay down on each other,” said Dugan. “We were down today, but that was a big game. We have a team that can go all the way, so we have to come out playing smart baseball and we have to execute.”
Head coach Chris Blum knows his team can bounce back from this heartbreaking loss.
“We need to score with men in scoring position and less than two outs. And we will,” said Blum. “I told the boys 'It's all about heart and guts.' We are built to come back through and win this.”
With the win, California will await the loser of the Seton Hill and West Virginia State game being playing on Friday evening.
--KU--
