• Box Score

SAVANNAH, Ga. (March 6) – The Vulcans suffered a one-run loss to a nationally-ranked opponent for the second-straight day at the Savannah Invitational, as they dropped a 4-3 contest to No. 28 Kutztown on Sunday afternoon.

With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team falls to 5-5 this season. Meanwhile, Kutztown improves to 7-3 overall after advancing to the College World Series last year.

Sophomore Kyle Thomas (Munhall, Pa./Steel Valley) suffered the loss after allowing two runs (both earned) in 1.1 innings of relief. Sophomore Tyler Zimm (Fayetteville, W.Va./Oak Hill) started the game for the Vulcans and worked 7.2 innings, allowing two runs (both earned) on five hits while striking out four and walking two. Sophomore Tom Neely earned the win for Kutztown, working scoreless seventh and eighth innings in relief of starter Trevor Rosenberg. Junior Dominick Ruscitti picked up his first save of the season for the Golden Bears after working a scoreless ninth.

Cal U took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second when senior designated hitter Chuck Faust (Hershey, Pa./Hershey) hit his second homer of the year, a two-run shot that drove in senior shortstop Casey Teagarden (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield), who had reached on an error. Kutztown tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the fourth when third baseman James Quigley drove in a run on an error and catcher Matt Albury added an RBI single.

The Vulcans reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fifth, 3-2, when sophomore catcher Kyle Petty (Stewartsville, N.J./Phillipsburg) led off with a single before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman right fielder Ben Carson (Coal Center, Pa./California) and scoring on a single by sophomore second baseman Evan King (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg).

In the top of the ninth, Kutztown started the inning with a double by right fielder Mike Dugan before designated hitter Andrew Ottenberg hit a go-ahead, two-run homer. The Vulcans were able to get the tying run on base in the bottom half of the inning before Ruscitti forced the final two outs to end the game.

The Vulcans continue play at the Savannah Invitational tomorrow, Monday, March 7, when they play a doubleheader against West Liberty.