• Box Score

SAVANNAH, Ga. (March 11) – Junior Kyle Petty (Stewartsville, N.J./Phillipsburg) tossed his third complete game of the season, as the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team posted an 8-4 victory against Tiffin (Ohio) after scoring four runs in the top of the ninth on Sunday afternoon at the Savannah Invitational.

With the win, the Vulcans improve to 8-6 overall with a 1-2 mark on their southern spring trip. Meanwhile, the Dragons suffered their third-straight loss to fall to 3-5 this season.

Petty, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Atlantic Region and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West Pitcher of the Week, improved to 4-0 this season while posting the first 9.0-inning complete game of his career. He allowed four runs (all earned) on six hits in 9.0 innings with one walk and a season-high six strikeouts.

Cal U took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Petty collected a two-out RBI single that scored senior second baseman Kyle Bowser (Stoystown, Pa./North Star), who led off the game with a single to extend his hitting streak to nine games. The Dragons countered with a pair of runs on two hits in the bottom of the inning to take a 2-1 lead.

The Vulcans reclaimed the lead in the second when freshmen Blake Henderson (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley) and Kris Fielding (Port Perry, Ontario/Port Perry) scored on an error with two outs, 3-2. Tiffin manufactured a run in the fourth to tie the game before taking a 4-3 lead in the seventh on a two-out RBI single by shortstop Roger Christensen. Cal U answered with a two-out rally in the top of the eighth to tie the game at 4-4. Petty started the rally with a walk and stole second before scoring on an RBI single by junior AJ Robinson (Milesburg, Pa./Bald Eagle).

Cal U then broke the tie in the top of the ninth, scoring four runs on three hits and two walks. With no outs and the bases loaded, Bowser lined an RBI single before sophomore Chuck Gasti (Carmichaels, Pa./Carmichaels) followed with a sacrifice fly. Senior center fielder Troy Handza (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler) then delivered a two-run double to increase the lead to 8-4.

Bowser, Handza and senior JB Sapienza (La Plata, Md./La Plata) all finished with multi-hit games against the Dragons, while Bowser scored a pair of runs and Handza posted a pair of RBI.

Tiffin reliever Nick Rodesky (1-1) suffered the loss after allowing three runs (all earned) without recording an out in the ninth. Dragons' starter Eric Klepper yielded four runs (two earned) on six hits and finished with seven strikeouts in 7.2 innings.

The Vulcans return to the diamond tomorrow, Monday, March 12, when they face Tiffin again at the Savannah Invitational with first pitch set for 11 a.m.