• Box Score

WEST LAWN, Pa. (May 15) – Facing their fourth nationally-ranked team in seven games, the No. 33 Vulcans suffered a 7-2 loss to No. 16 West Chester on Saturday night at Owls Field to be eliminated from the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Tournament.

“It was truly an honor to coach the kids that I coach, as they are closely knit like a family,” said head coach Mike Conte. “They believe in themselves, they weren't given a lot, but they believe in themselves. I am really proud of them.”

With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team finishes the season with a 34-18 overall record following a combined 6-2 post-season mark in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) and NCAA Tournaments. The 34 victories rank as the second-highest single-season total in program history.

“To come this far in my last year with these guys, you can't ask for anything more to battle like we did,” said senior right fielder Sam DiMatteo (Center, Pa./Center). “I am just happy to come this far and have such a great career.”

Meanwhile, West Chester improves to 39-12 overall and will face host Kutztown tomorrow, Sunday, May 16, for the Atlantic Regional Championship.

Following a scoreless first, the Golden Rams scored three runs on two hits and a walk in the top of the second. West Chester threatened to expand the lead in the fourth when it had a runner on second and two outs before the threat ended on a groundout.

In the top of the sixth, West Chester stretched its lead to 5-0 following a two-run homer by right fielder Matt Baer. Cal U cut into the deficit with two runs on one hit in the seventh. DiMatteo was hit by a pitch to open the inning and sophomore center fielder Troy Handza (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler) then drew a walk. Later in the inning, junior designated hitter Chuck Faust (Hershey, Pa./Hershey) delivered a two-out, two-run double.

The Golden Rams answered with a run in both the eighth and ninth innings to make it a 7-2 contest.

In his final collegiate start, senior Nick Schreiber (Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle Antrim) suffered the loss after allowing five runs (all earned) on six hits and four walks in 6.0 inning of work. Fellow senior Ryan Lavrusky (Temple Terrace, Fla./King) worked the final 3.0 innings and allowed two runs (both earned) on six hits.

Junior first baseman Adam Links (New Hope, Pa./Central Bucks East) led the Cal U at the plate, collecting two of the team's six hits against West Chester. He finished the tournament with a team-high .429 average (6-for-14) and added two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored. Faust plated both Vulcan runs with his double in the seventh, while DiMatteo and Handza each scored a run.

DiMatteo finished his career as the school's all-time leader with 223 hits, 175 runs scored and 115 stolen bases. He also is one of only three players in program history to hit .400 in back-to-back seasons (.405 in 2009, .400 in 2010). DiMatteo reset his own single-season school record with 43 steals this year after collecting 40 stolen bases last season.

Handza also established a pair of single-season marks in 2010, finishing with 61 RBI and 61 runs scored.

“We have a pretty young team, but we lose three tremendous players (DiMatteo, Lavrusky and Schreiber),” said Conte. “But we have good young guys who will hopefully come back stronger and they will be hungry to get back here (regionals) next year.”

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.) d. Seton Hill, 6-5 - Seton Hill eliminated
Game 8 - Kutztown d. West Virginia State, 10-5 - West Virginia State eliminated
Game 9 - West Chester d. California (Pa.), 7-2 - California (Pa.) eliminated

Sunday, May 16
Game 10 - Kutztown vs. West Chester, 1 p.m.
Game 11 - If necessary, same teams as in Game 10