By JOSHUA NATOLI
Sports Editor
The College of Saint Rose put on their rally caps in the ninth inning of the second game of a double header Saturday, scoring four runs in the ninth before Kutztown was able to hold on to complete the sweep of the Golden Knights (4-13) Saturday at the Dinwiddie County Sports Complex. The Bears (7-1) won the finale 11-9 after taking the opener 10-2.
Junior first baseman Zac Bellinger hit a three-run double to the left-center gap in and then came around on a base hit by junior second baseman Ryan Hooker in the ninth inning. Junior designated hitter Nick Venier went 3-for-4 scoring three runs and sophomore center fielder Derek Reed doubled and singled to help Saint Rose.
The Golden Knights previously had come back from a 5-1 deficit with two runs in the fourth inning and another in the fifth inning that made it 5-4, with Kutztown still ahead. However, the Bears responded with four runs in the bottom of the fifth and two more in the sixth to take control until the ninth.
In the opener, Kutztown scored a pair of runs in the fourth to take a 4-1 lead and then broke it open by adding three more runs in the seventh.
Sophomore catcher Patrick Griffin and Bellinger both homered for the Golden Knights. For Kutztown, junior second baseman, Brandon Cholish drove in three runs with a two-run double, which highlighted a five-run fifth inning, and also hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth.
Saint Rose closed out the weekend series against Kutztown Sunday afternoon with another loss by a score of 5-4.
Venier extended his hitting streak to 12 games after an eighth inning homer. Hooker went 2-for-4 and pitcher Ryan Harper allowed just one earned run in 6.2 innings as he continues to comeback from Tommy John sugery.
Kutztown junior center fielder Brandon Martinez went 4-for-5 with a triple and two runs scored.
Next up for th Golden Knights is a doubleheader matchup with Northeast-10 Conference rival Saint Michael’s this Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for12:00 p.m.
