Kutztown Comes From Behind To Defeat No. 13 West Chester, 4-2

Kutztown’s Matt Albaugh hit a pinch-hit three-run home run in the sixth inning as the Golden Bears came from behind to defeat No. 13 West Chester, 4-2, in the second round of the 2012 PSAC Baseball Tournament inside Pullman Park Thursday afternoon.
 
West Chester (34-10) drops into the loser’s bracket with the setback and will play Slippery Rock in an elimination game Friday morning at 9:30 a.m. A win in that game would mean the Golden Rams have to come back and play in another elimination game at 3:30 p.m. tomorrow afternoon.
 
Kutztown (34-15) advances to Friday where it plays one game at 6:30 p.m., which guarantees that the Bears, who have not yet lost in the double-elimination tournament, will be playing on Saturday.
 
Rams starter Joe Gunkel (7-1) went the distance, suffering his first loss of the season. He allowed four runs in the sixth inning, after hitting the first two batters of the frame. Up to that point, he had walked the first batter of the game and then retired the next 15 of 16 hitters he faced, including nine straight leading up to the fateful sixth.
 
Following Albaugh’s pinch-hit homer, the next batter singled, and Gunkel set down the remaining seven batters in the game.
 
West Chester scored both of its runs in the third inning when Reid Pulford was hit by a pitch to lead off, and Mike Raimo followed with a double to right-center. Jack Provine then singled home Pulford and runners were at the corners with nobody out. Joe Wendle grounded into a double play, allowing Raimo to score.
 
Damon Valloreo (3-3) started and picked up the win for Kutztown. He scattered five hits over six innings, walking three and striking out two. Three more pitchers finished up the final three innings. Trent Mertz came on to get the final out and earn his second save of the year.
 
West Chester’s chance for a conference crown becomes exponentially more difficult with the loss. The Golden Rams must win four straight games in the next two days to claim the title.