May 20, 2005

Final Stats

Institute, W. Va. - The Rock's 2005 season came to an end Saturday afternoon when Kutztown scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to record a 5-4 win over SRU in the first elimination game of the NCAA Division II North Atlantic Regional Baseball Championships.

The loss gave SRU a final overall record of 31 wins and 15 losses.

Kutztown took a 2-0 lead on a two-run home run by Josh Fink in the bottom of the second inning.

Rock third baseman Chase Rowe tied the score at 2-2 with a two-run home in the top of the third inning.

SRU then took a 3-2 lead on a solo home run by Dave Gonos in the fourth inning.

Kyle Costello's solo home run for Kutztown tied the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Tyler Wilson's clutch RBI single to center field plated Brad Wilson, who had reached on an error nd moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Gonos, to give SRU a 4-3 lead in the top of the ninth.

Kutztown won the game with two unearned runs in the bottom of the ninth.

Dan Herisko was tagged with the loss after allowing all five Kutztown runs (three earned) on seven hits, striking out seven and walking three in 8 2/3 innings.

Nick Armstrong faced one batter and yielded the game-winning single.

Gonos, Phil Butch and J.D. Lowry had two hits each to lead a nine-hit Rock attack.

Note: The Rock made its 12th appearance in regional competition and 11th in Jeff Messer's 20 seasons as head coach.