CARY, N.C. (May 25, 2010) -- Corey Buletza had three hits including a RBI single in the fifth inning, but it wasn't enough as Kutztown fell to Southern Indiana, 7-1, in the NCAA Division II Baseball National Championship Tuesday night at the USA Baseball National Training Complex. (BOXSCORE)
However, Kutztown's 1-0 lead was short-lived as Southern Indiana scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take control of the contest. The Golden Bears will meet Franklin Pierce in an elimination game Wednesday night at 7 p.m. The winner of that game will advance to the semifinal round against UC San Diego on Thursday.
With two wins and no loses, Southern Indiana will await the winner of Wednesday's 3 p.m. elimination tilt between Georgia College & State University-Central Missouri.
The Screaming Eagles (50-13) took advantage of two walks to start the sixth and knotted the game at one with a sacrifice fly to right field by Wes Fink. Brad Vance added another run with a triple to right center. Two batters later Wandy Rosario plated two more runs with a line drive to left.
USI furthered its lead with two unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh, to build a six run cushion.
The Golden Bears sole run started with a two-base throwing error on a warm hopper to third by Mike Kacelowicz in the fifth. Matt Kulbacki followed with a perfect bunt single down the third base line. Two batters later, Buletza drove home Kacelowicz, but was gunned down at second trying to stretch it into a double.
Buletza finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and stolen base, while Jared Frey added a single and double.
"Yesterday I was swinging at bad pitches," said Buletza. "Tonight, the coaches wanted me to find a pitch in the zone that I could hit and that is what I did."
Josh Schultze was able to limit the Golden Bear offense all evening. He threw a complete game, scattering eight hits, one unearned run and striking out six batters.
Nathan Reed blanked the Eagles through 5.2 innings, but could not get out of the troubled sixth inning. He surrendered five runs – four earned – and struck out five batters.
Mike Bucklin got the Golden Bears out of the sixth, Ryan Cassidy worked the seventh and Tyler Persun pitched a perfect eighth inning.
In the first inning, Mike Dugan (Ocean City, N.J./Ocean City) collided into the right field fence in foul ground after making a running catch. Dugan also collected one of the Golden Bears eight hits.
"We need to look back at what got us here," said Buletza. "We lost in the opening round in the past and battled back. As a team we have a lot of heart and will fight back from anything. We aren't the type of team that packs it up and is ready to go home. The guys know we have to come out and play better and that is what we will do."
--KU--
