LYNDHURST, N.J. – Four Kutztown University pitchers combined on a three-hit shutout as the Golden Bears earned a 1-0 non-conference baseball victory over host Felician College on Wednesday evening at the Lyndhurst Recreation Complex. Kutztown (24-8) is ranked No. 3 in the most recent NCAA Division II Atlantic Region writers' poll and received votes in the national version.

Felician (14-25) suffered its fifth shutout loss of 2013, including four by 1-0 scores. The Golden Falcons fell to 4-9 in games decided by one run, and have seven losses this season when the opponent has tallied two runs or fewer.

On Wednesday, Felician hitters struck out nine times, drew three walks, and left five runners on base. On only one occasion (the third inning) did the Golden Falcons put two runners on in the same inning, and only once (the sixth) did they have a runner reach third base. However, there were already two outs in both instances and the Golden Bear pitchers escaped trouble.

Kutztown picked up the game's only run in the third inning against Felician freshman left-hander Chris Falcone (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph by-the-Sea) (0-5). With one out, Kutztown senior center fielder Brandon Shurr (Bernville, Pa./Schuylkill Valley) walked, stole second base, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Following another walk, sophomore Ricky Gorrell (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford) got down a safety squeeze bunt on which Shurr scored without a play.

Falcone escaped the third without further damage, and was relieved after giving up four hits and striking out two batters over five innings of work. Four Felician relievers combined to allow one hit and no walks with six strikeouts for the final four frames. Gorrell had three of Kutztown's five hits. Golden Bear starter Matt Swarmer (Mohnton, Pa./Governor Mifflin) (1-0) was credited with his first career victory after yielding one hit and striking out five over four frames.

With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Felician junior third-baseman Aaron Brill (West Palm Beach, Fla./John I. Leonard) looped a hit into center field, and hustled the play into a double. Kutztown closer Billy Felo (Dauphin, Pa./Central Dauphin), however, rebounded to record a strikeout and groundout to secure his fourth save.

Brill finished 2 for 4 and Chris Faber (Neptune, N.J./Neptune) picked up the other base hit for Felician. Kutztown stole six bases in the contest.

Felician returns to action on Saturday with a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader against Concordia (N.Y.) College at noon in Bronxville, N.Y.