Baseball
Game Recaps

April 17, 2009

GOLDEN BEARS EARN PLAYOFF BERTH IN SWEEP

KUTZTOWN, Pa. — The Kutztown University baseball team swept Shippensburg on Friday afternoon, earning a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division playoff berth.

The Golden Bears (29-9, 14-4 PSAC East) downed the Red Raiders 9-5 in the first game and had a come-from-behind 5-4 win in the second game.

The teams will travel to Shippensburg on Saturday to finish their regular-season series. The doubleheader will begin at 1 p.m.

Game 1:
Score by Innings             R  H  E
-------------------------------------| BOXSCORE | RECAP |
Shippensburg... 010 040 0 -  5  9  1   
Kutztown....... 033 030 X -  9 10  1     
-------------------------------------

Game 2:
Score by Innings             R  H  E
-------------------------------------| BOXSCORE | RECAP |
Shippensburg.... 001 003 0 - 4  7  4
Kutztown........ 030 000 2 - 5 10  1
-------------------------------------

GORSKI STRIKES OUT 10, KU EARNS PLAYOFF BERTH

KUTZTOWN, Pa. — Darin Gorski (jr. Mount Joy/Donegal) struck out 10 in a complete-game effort in a 9-5 win over Shippensburg at North Campus Field on Friday.

Gorski allowed four earned runs and surrendered nine hits as the Golden Bears earned a playoff berth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference playoffs.

After Shippensburg scored a run in the top of the second, KU responded with three runs in its half of the inning.

Matt Kulbacki (jr. Hershey/Hershey) hit a three-run home run to left field to score Mike Kacelowicz (jr. Orwigsburg/Blue Mountain) and James Quigley (so. Bensalem/Bensalem).

In the third, Shayne Houck (fr. Boyertown/Boyertown) singled and Kacelowicz reached on a fielder's choice. Chad Lightcap (sr. Boyertown/Boyertown) knocked each of them in with a single. He scored later on a single by Michael Dugan (so. Ocean City, N.J./Ocean City).

Shippensburg cut the lead to 6-5 with a four-run fifth inning, but the Golden Bears responded with three runs of their own on a deep three-run homer to left field by Lightcap, giving him five RBIs in the game. He is now in fourth place in KU history with 18 home runs in his career. He also moved into fourth place in RBIs with 139.

Kulbacki was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and Kacelowicz finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored, a double and a stolen base.

LATE RALLY PROPELS GOLDEN BEARS TO 5-4 WIN

KUTZTOWN, Pa. — The Golden Bears scored two runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh for a 5-4 come-from-behind win over Shippensburg.

James Quigley (so. Bensalem/Bensalem) started the rally with a single to right field and was followed by a walk to Chad Lightcap (sr. Boyertown/Boyertown). After a strikeout, Matt Kulbacki (jr. Hershey/Hershey) had a RBI single to left, and Lightcap moved to third and Kulbacki to second as the throw home trickled past the catcher.

Corey Buletza (so. St. Claire/Pottsville) was intentionally walked to load the bases for Mike Kacelowicz (jr. Orwigsburg/Blue Mountain). Kacelowicz responded with a line drive to right field to score Lightcap and give the Golden Bears a walk-off win.

Trent Mertz (so. Kutztown/Kutztown) started the game, going 5 2/3 innings and allowing four runs. He struck out three and earned the no-decision. Mike Bucklin (jr. Shillington/Governor Mifflin) finished off the final 1 1/3 innings to earn the win. He did not allow a hit or a run, while striking out one batter.

Shayne Houck (fr. Boyertown/Boyertown) had a three-run home run in the bottom of the second to give KU a 3-0 lead. Scoring on the home run was Dom Fantanarosa (sr. Coatesville/Coatesville), who singled, and Brad Stoudt (fr. Mertztown/Brandywine Heights), who reached on an error.

Houck was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored, and Quigley was 2-for-4. Houck and Quigley finished as the only Golden Bear with multiple hits.