• Box Score

WEST LAWN, Pa. (May 14) – The No. 33 Vulcans managed only two hits through the first eight innings before plating two runs during the top of the ninth in a 7-2 loss to West Virginia State on the second day of the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Tournament at Owls Field.

“West Virginia State is a good team and they had an outstanding pitcher today,” said head coach Mike Conte. “He (West Virginia starter Ryan Holstine) came right at us and we had some high-quality at-bats, but they had very good defensive plays.”

With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team falls to 33-17 overall this season and now has a 1-1 record in the double-elimination tournament. The Vulcans return to action in the tournament when they face Seton Hill tomorrow, Saturday, May 15, at Owls Field, starting at 11 a.m. The winner of the game will also play in the third game on tomorrow's schedule at approximately 6 p.m. Meanwhile, West Virginia State improves to 32-15 overall and will face No. 12 Kutztown tomorrow at 2:30 p.m.

“We all know the season is on the line and we don't want this to be our last game,” said junior first baseman Adam Links (New Hope, Pa./Central Bucks East), who collected two of the team's five hits. “We will put this game behind us and come out strong tomorrow. Everybody is going to play their hearts out for our seniors, no matter who they are, starter or not. “

After Holstine retired the Vulcans in order to start the game, the Yellow Jackets took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first when right fielder Bo Darby blasted a two-run homer on a 3-0 count over the wall in left-center field. West Virginia State added another run in the second on a throwing error when Cal U attempted to turn a double play to end the inning, 3-0.

The Yellow Jackets took advantage of another error in the fifth, scoring three runs (one earned) off freshman starter Tyler Zimm (Fayetteville, W.Va./Oak Hill). In the inning, Darby lined a two-run double down the left-field line before scoring on a two-out double by third baseman Joey Jobst.

Zimm (6-2) suffered the loss after allowing six runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks over 5.0 innings, while fanning five. Senior right-hander Ryan Lavrusky (Temple Terrace, Fla./King) tossed the final 3.0 innings of the game, yielding one unearned run on one hit and one walk.

Holstine faced only one over the minimum after throwing 5.0 no-hit innings before junior left fielder Sean Welsh (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East) collected a lead-off single in the top of the sixth. However, Welsh was doubled off first on a line drive to the second baseman to end the inning. West Virginia State increased its lead to 7-0 in the seventh after scoring a run on two errors following a leadoff walk.

After having runners in scoring position in both the seventh and eighth, Cal U touched up reliever C.J. Meadows with back-to-back doubles by sophomore center fielder Troy Handza (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler) and Links. Junior Evan Kendall relieved Meadows on the mound and allowed a two-out, RBI double to junior designated hitter Chuck Faust (Hershey, Pa./Hershey) before recording the final out of the game.

Links finished the game with two hits, while Faust, Handza and Welsh were the only other Vulcans to reach base on a hit against the Yellow Jackets. Junior shortstop Casey Teagarden (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) had a 12-game hitting streak snapped after going 0-3 on Friday.

Holstine earned the win after scattering only two hits and allowing no runs over 8.0 innings on the mound, while fanning six and walking two.

The Vulcans return to Owls Field tomorrow morning when they face Seton Hill for the third time this season. The Griffins, who won the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) Tournament, won both games and have won four of the five meetings against Cal U since the 2008 season.

2010 NCAA ATLANTIC REGIONAL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Thursday, May 13
Game 2 - (#2) West Chester d. (#5) Mansfield, 9-6
Game 1 - (#6) California (Pa.) d. (#1) Kutztown, 4-3
Game 3 - (#3) Seton Hill d. (#4) West Virginia State, 6-0

Friday, May 14
Game 4 - Kutztown d. Mansfield, 9-5 - Mansfield eliminated
Game 5 - West Virginia State d. California (Pa.), 7-2
Game 6 - West Chester d. Seton Hill, 9-3

Saturday, May 15
Game 7 - California (Pa.) vs. Seton Hill, 11 a.m.
Game 8 - Kutztown vs. West Virginia State, 2:30 p.m.
Game 9 - West Chester vs. Winner of Game 7, 6 p.m.

** If two teams remain after Game 9,
Sunday, May 16
Game 10 - Winner of Game 8 vs. Winner of Game 9, 1 [.m.
Game 11 - If necessary, same teams as in Game 10

** If three teams remain after Game 9,
Sunday, May 16
Game 10 - Winner of Game 8 vs. Loser of Game 9, 1 p.m.
Game 11 - Winner of Game 9 vs. Winner of Game 10, 4:30 p.m.