• Box Score

SAVANNAH, Ga. (March 10) – Facing a team that competed at the NCAA Division I level for the last 20-plus years, the Vulcans suffered a 5-2 loss to No. 14 Le Moyne (N.Y.) on Saturday afternoon in the first day of the Savannah Invitational.

The California University of Pennsylvania baseball team has now lost five of its last six games to fall to 7-6 this season. Meanwhile, Le Moyne improves to 9-4 overall behind a 5-3 mark while in the Peach State.

The Dolphins took an early 1-0 lead in the second on a sacrifice fly after a triple opened the inning. In the bottom of the fifth, Cal U manufactured a pair of runs to take a 2-1 lead. With two runners on base, senior center fielder Troy Handza (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler) collected an RBI single to tie the game before senior second baseman Kyle Bowser (Stoystown, Pa./North Star) gave the Vulcans the lead on a sacrifice fly.

Le Moyne benefited from two errors in the eighth, scoring three runs to reclaim the lead at 4-2. The inning started with a two-base error and with the game tied later in the inning shortstop Ryan Mahoney delivered the go-ahead, two-run single with two outs. The Dolphins added an insurance run in the top of the ninth to finish with the 5-2 victory.

Junior Kyle Thomas (Munhall, Pa. /Steel Valley) suffered the loss after allowing four runs (one earned) on seven hits with a season-high eight strikeouts in 8.0 innings. Le Moyne starter Derek Zielinski earned the win after yielding two runs (both earned) on six hits in 8.0 innings, while freshman Ryan Davis registered the save after tossing a scoreless ninth inning.

Handza finished with two hits in the loss, marking his team-leading sixth multi-hit game of the season. With a single in the second inning, Bowser extended his hitting streak to eight games.

The Vulcans continue play at the Savannah Invitational tomorrow, Sunday, March 11, when they face Tiffin (Ohio) at 11 a.m.