WEST LAWN, Pa. – Pinch hitter Brady McNab walked with the bases loaded to score Thomas Romano to lift Kutztown University to a 3-2 win over Shepherd University at the 2014 NCAA Division II Baseball Championship Atlantic Regional Tournament at Owls Park at Ted Palka Park on Saturday. The loss eliminates Shepherd from the tournament.

Kutztown took a 1-0 lead in the third inning as Travis Kreitz reached on an error and later scored on a double off the bat of Kyle Stoudt.

Shepherd answered back with a run  in the bottom of the third as junior shortstop Spencer Wolfe (Huntingtown, Md./Huntingtown/USC Aiken) led off with a walk and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of freshman second baseman Jacob Carney (Stephens City, Va./Sherando).

Shepherd took a 2-1 lead in the sixth. Junior designated hitter Matt Wilson (Baltimore, Md./Archbishop Curley/Essex CC) was hit-by-pitch and stole second.  Senior outfielder Ryan Messina (St. James, NY/Smithtown East/Tampa) followed with a double down the left field line to plate Wilson.

Kutztown scored a run in the eighth to tie the game at 2-2. Kreitz led off with a single and was replaced by pinch runner Ricky Gorrell, Gorrell moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Brandon Martinez. He later moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch.

Kutztown reliever Matt Swarmer (2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R 0 Ks 1 BB) (3-2) earned the win. Sophomore reliever Tyler Thomas (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) (1.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0K, 2 BB) (1-1)  took the loss.

Brandon Colish went 3-for-4 for the Golden Bears.

Wilson went 1-for-3 with a run scored and Messina was 1-for-2 with an RBI to pace the Rams.

Shepherd completes its season at 39-14, while Kutztown improves to 32-30. The Golden Bears will face Millersville in the elimination game tonight.

Box Score