Albright College Athletics

READING, Pa. - In what has become an annual event, the Lions faced off against Division II Kutztown University at First Energy Stadium Wednesday evening. First Energy Stadium is actually the home to the minor league ball club the Reading Phillies.

The Golden Bears who will be heading to the PSAC East Conference Tournament in a few short weeks defeated Albright by the final score of 8-4 in nine innings of play. With the win, Kutztown improved their record to 30-11, while the Lions fell to 14-16-1 on the season.

It was definitely a busy night for both teams as a variety of players got the opportunity to play in one of the finest parks in the entire minor league system. The Lions started off the evening with a pair of quick runs to take a 2-0 lead over their Division II opponent.

After back-to-back walks and stolen bases, junior first baseman Casey Lawrence (McSherrystown, PA/Delone Catholic) hit a deep fly-ball to center field. Tagging on the play was sophomore Matt Pannella (Phoenixville, PA/Phoenixville) to give the Lions a 1-0 lead. Helping to make it a 2-0 ball game was senior third baseman Jason Dunkelberger (Shillington, PA/Governor Mifflin).

Dunkelberger managed to hit a hard shot to the right side of the field forcing Golden Bear pitcher Anthony Fegley to step off the mound. With Fegley’s attention focused on Dunkelberger and the play at first base, junior centerfielder Shane Stein (New Ringgold, PA/Blue Mountain) sprinted home to give his team another crucial run.

In the second, Kutztown put their first dent on the scoreboard on a RBI single to right field by Michael Dugan. The Golden Bears would then even the score at 2-2 in the third inning with another RBI single. Picking up the RBI was James Quigley. Prior to Quigley’s at-bat, junior infielder Mike Kacelowicz ripped a triple to right center to start off the inning.

The score remained deadlocked at 2-2 through the fourth and fifth innings. Moving into the sixth Kutztown took their first lead of the evening after scoring one run in the top half of the inning. Albright did answer right back with a run of their own to even the score at 3-3.

Unfortunately, Kutztown was able to put up a pair of unanswered runs in the next two innings to take a 5-3 lead. They then sealed the victory in the ninth with three runs to go up 8-3. Despite the five run deficit, the Lions tried to battle their way back.

After a groundout to the pitcher, freshman Ben Koch (Leesport, PA/Schuylkill Valley) crushed a double down the right field line. Koch then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Picking up the RBI was freshman catcher Doug Mace (Hampstead, MD/Delone Catholic) who ripped a single up the middle.

Kutztown would then silence the Albright surge on back-to-back outs to secure the non-conference win.

The Lions return to action on Friday, when they travel to Arcadia University for a crucial Commonwealth Conference game. Start time is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.