For the second season in a row, West Virginia State is coming home empty-handed from the NCAA Division II North Atlantic Regional tournament at Point Stadium in Johnstown, Pa.

The Jackets' latest postseason run came to an end Friday as Kutztown's Philip Rummel (7-5) outdueled State's Travis McGrath for a 2-1 victory. State touched Rummel for 11 hits but fizzled with runners in scoring position, going 1-for-12. The Jackets were also hindered by a pair of double plays, a foiled steal attempt and some sketchy decisions on the basepaths.

"Sometimes you're the hammer and sometimes you're the nail. Today, we were the nail," said State coach Cal Bailey. "We had a lot of opportunities. We had three guys thrown out on the bases, some missed signs. If anything, I think it was overagressiveness."

The fourth inning typified State's day - and weekend.

Bo Darby singled to open the frame and J.D. Broderick followed with a hit, but Darby was thrown out trying to advance to third. After a single by Michael Deleeuw, Broderick was forced out at third on Ryne Holstine's grounder. Chad Chambers plated Deleeuw with a single, then Holstine and Chambers each moved up a base on a wild pitch. A walk to Joey Jobst loaded the bases with two outs, but Chase Day struck out swinging to end the threat.

In all, State stranded 10 runners against Kutztown.

McGrath (7-4) went the distance for the Jackets, allowing just two runs on six hits. He walked two and struck out three.

"He threw a heckuva game," said Bailey. "He threw 115 pitches and 77 of them were strikes. We hit the ball well; it could have just as easily been 8-7 or 7-6 as it was 2-1."

James Quigley scored the Golden Bears' first run in the first inning and drove in the go-ahead run in the fourth. Garrison Rausch was the only Kutztown player with multiple hits. The Bears will take on the loser of Friday's late game between Shippensburg and Pitt Johnstown at 3 p.m. today.

"They've got a good team," Bailey said of Kutztown. "I think they start four freshmen and a couple sophomores."

The Jackets dropped their opening game 10-2 to Shippensburg Thursday. Last season, State dropped its first regional game 2-0 to Kutztown and followed that up with a 6-2 loss to Shippensburg.

While Bailey didn't offer any excuses for his team's recent regional struggles, he did point to the extended layoff between the end of the West Virginia Conference tournament and the start of NCAA play.

"I'm sure it had something to do with it, especially when you have to sit a week and a half between this game and the conference tournament," Bailey said. "You come off a conference win and then you have to sit and go through finals. ... There's no continuity. There's no excuses. You have to keep playing."

To contact staff writer Jeff Rider, use e-mail or call 348-5122.

For the second season in a row, West Virginia State is coming home empty-handed from the NCAA Division II North Atlantic Regional tournament at Point Stadium in Johnstown, Pa.

The Jackets' latest postseason run came to an end Friday as Kutztown's Philip Rummel (7-5) outdueled State's Travis McGrath for a 2-1 victory. State touched Rummel for 11 hits but fizzled with runners in scoring position, going 1-for-12. The Jackets were also hindered by a pair of double plays, a foiled steal attempt and some sketchy decisions on the basepaths.

"Sometimes you're the hammer and sometimes you're the nail. Today, we were the nail," said State coach Cal Bailey. "We had a lot of opportunities. We had three guys thrown out on the bases, some missed signs. If anything, I think it was overagressiveness."

The fourth inning typified State's day - and weekend.

Bo Darby singled to open the frame and J.D. Broderick followed with a hit, but Darby was thrown out trying to advance to third. After a single by Michael Deleeuw, Broderick was forced out at third on Ryne Holstine's grounder. Chad Chambers plated Deleeuw with a single, then Holstine and Chambers each moved up a base on a wild pitch. A walk to Joey Jobst loaded the bases with two outs, but Chase Day struck out swinging to end the threat.

In all, State stranded 10 runners against Kutztown.

McGrath (7-4) went the distance for the Jackets, allowing just two runs on six hits. He walked two and struck out three.

"He threw a heckuva game," said Bailey. "He threw 115 pitches and 77 of them were strikes. We hit the ball well; it could have just as easily been 8-7 or 7-6 as it was 2-1."

James Quigley scored the Golden Bears' first run in the first inning and drove in the go-ahead run in the fourth. Garrison Rausch was the only Kutztown player with multiple hits. The Bears will take on the loser of Friday's late game between Shippensburg and Pitt Johnstown at 3 p.m. today.

"They've got a good team," Bailey said of Kutztown. "I think they start four freshmen and a couple sophomores."

The Jackets dropped their opening game 10-2 to Shippensburg Thursday. Last season, State dropped its first regional game 2-0 to Kutztown and followed that up with a 6-2 loss to Shippensburg.

While Bailey didn't offer any excuses for his team's recent regional struggles, he did point to the extended layoff between the end of the West Virginia Conference tournament and the start of NCAA play.

"I'm sure it had something to do with it, especially when you have to sit a week and a half between this game and the conference tournament," Bailey said. "You come off a conference win and then you have to sit and go through finals. ... There's no continuity. There's no excuses. You have to keep playing."

To contact staff writer Jeff Rider, use e-mail or call 348-5122.