• Box Score

FLORENCE, S.C. (March 14) – Facing their fifth nationally-ranked opponent in a week, the Vulcans suffered a 10-0 loss to No. 22 Francis Marion (S.C.) at Cormwell Field on Wednesday afternoon.

With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team falls to 9-8 overall after being shutout for the second time this season. Meanwhile, Francis Marion improves to 17-9 this year after extending its win streak to five games.

The Patriots took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second before the inning ended with the bases loaded when sophomore left fielder John Orr (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler) made a head-first diving catch along the foul line. In the fourth inning, Francis Marion added to its lead with a two-run homer by shortstop Michael Wilson, 4-0.

The Vulcans made two pitching changes in the sixth, as the Patriots accounted for four runs on two hits, three walks and a fielding error to the stretch their lead to 8-0. Francis Marion later posted two runs on a pair of hits and a fielding error in the bottom of the eighth to finish with the 10-0 victory.

Sophomore third baseman Chuck Gasti (Carmichaels, Pa./Carmichaels) and freshman shortstop Matt Peters (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) both recorded a pair of hits, combining for four of the team's five hits.

Freshman starter GJ Senchak (New Castle, Pa./New Castle) was saddled with the loss after allowing four runs on six hits and three walks (78 pitches) in 5.0 innings. Patriots' starter Gary Ashcraft (3-0) earned the win after scattering four hits over 5.0 shutout innings (79 pitches).

Cal U returns to the diamond tomorrow, Thursday, March 15, when it faces No. 29 Mount Olive (N.C.) for the second time in a week at 1 p.m. In their last meeting, the Trojans claimed a 12-3 victory despite the Vulcans collecting 12 hits in the game.