• Box Score

SAVANNAH, Ga. (March 5) – Trailing 4-2 entering the ninth, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team rallied to take the lead before losing 6-5 in extra innings at Armstrong Atlantic (Ga.) on Saturday afternoon in the first day of the Savannah Invitational.

With the loss, the Vulcans fall to 5-4 this season. Meanwhile, the Pirates have won 12-straight games to improve to 13-2 this year. At last year's Savannah Invitational, Cal U claimed a thrilling 10-9 victory over Armstrong Atlantic in 14 innings after the two teams combined to use eight pitchers.

In the top of the ninth, senior third baseman Aaron Ordy (Butler, Pa./Butler) and junior outfielder Troy Handza (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler) started the two-out rally with back-to-back walks. Senior first baseman Adam Links (New Hope, Pa./Central Bucks East) then reached base on a fielding error to load the bases before classmate Sean Welsh (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East) tied the game at 4-4 with a two-run single. Senior shortstop Casey Teagarden (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) followed with a RBI single to give the Vulcans the lead, 5-4.

The Pirates then tied the game in the bottom of the inning before Welsh recorded the final out with the bases loaded. Cal U was retired in order in the 10th, while Armstrong Atlantic was unable to break the tie despite loading the bases for the second-straight inning. After the Vulcans were held scoreless in the top of the 11th, second baseman Mike Barnhill reached base with a leadoff double after he tied the game in the ninth. Barnhill then advanced to third on a bunt single before scoring the game-winning run on a walk-off single by shortstop Alex Frederick.

Senior Ryan MacNamara (Bellefonte, Pa./Bald Eagle), one of four pitcher used by the Vulcans, suffered the loss in relief after allowing the game-winning run on three hits and one walk in only 0.2 inning of an inning. Junior Eric Francis (New Castle, Pa./Shenango) took a no-decision in his first start of the season after yielding four runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings.

Pirates' reliever Travis Morris (1-0) earned the win after working 2.1 innings of scoreless relief after starter Trent Landa allowed just two runs in 7.0 innings of work.

Links, Ordy and sophomore second baseman Evan King (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) each finished with two hits and combined for six of the 10 hits by Cal U on Saturday.

The Vulcans return to action at the Savannah Invitational tomorrow, Sunday, March 6, when they face Kutztown at 12 p.m. The game will feature two of the preseason favorites in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) after the two teams met in last year's PSAC Championship.