• Box Score

BUTLER, Pa. (May 3) – Despite four players posting multi-hit games, the Vulcans were eliminated from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament on Friday afternoon with a 6-2 loss against Millersville at Pullman Park.

With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team finishes the year with a 26-24 overall record. Meanwhile, Millersville improves to 25-22-1 this season and will face Mercyhurst in another elimination game tomorrow afternoon.

Sophomore Justin Taylor (Julian, Pa./Bald Eagle) suffered the loss after allowing a career-high six runs (five earned) on four hits and three walks in just 1.1 innings, the shortest start of his career. Senior Jim Kirker (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette) tossed 6.2 innings of scoreless relief against the Marauders, scattering five hits and one walk. Millersville sophomore Tim Mayza (4-2) earned the win after yielding one run (earned) on six hits and one walk in 7.0 innings.

The Marauders took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first after benefiting from a throwing error. Millersville added to its lead in the second, scoring five runs on three singles and three walks before Kirker retired the last two batters with a runner on third.

In the fourth, junior right fielder Kyle Petty (Stewartsville, N.J./Phillipsburg) and senior center fielder Troy Handza (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler) collected back-to-back singles. Both runners moved into scoring position on a ground-out to the right side before Mazya ended the threat with a strikeout.

The Vulcans opened the top of the fifth with solo homer by sophomore third baseman Chuck Gasti (Carmichaels, Pa./Carmichaels), his team-leading fourth of the season. In the bottom of the inning, Millersville looked to answer before Petty threw out Marauders' designated hitter Carlos Medina at the plate after he tried to score from second on a single.

In the eighth, sophomore Ben Carson (Coal Center, Pa./California) lined a double down the right-field line before scoring on an RBI single from Petty, 6-2. The Vulcans then had runners on first and second with one out before Millersville induced an inning-ending double play.

Carson, Gasti, Handza and Petty each went 2-for-4 in the loss on Thursday.

Handza finished his career ranked second in school history in hits, runs scored and stolen bases, while also tying for fourth in home runs.

Note: The game was delayed 51 minutes due to lightning in the top of the fourth inning.

2012 PSAC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Wednesday, May 2
Game 1 - (E3) Kutztown d. (W2) Gannon, 5-4
Game 2 - (E1) West Chester d. (W4) Slippery Rock, 4-1
Game 3 - (E2) Shippensburg d. (W3) California, 5-4
Game 4 - (W1) Mercyhurst d. (E4) Millersville, 5-1
 
Thursday, May 3
Game 5 - (W4) Slippery Rock d. (W2) Gannon, 3-2 (Gannon eliminated)
Game 6 - (E4) Millersville d. (W3) California (Pa.), 6-2 (California eliminated)
Game 7 - (E3) Kutztown d. (E1) West Chester, 4-2
Game 8 - (E2) Shippensburg d. (W1) Mercyhurst, 7-3
 
Friday, May 4
Game 9 - (W4) Slippery Rock vs. (E1) West Chester, 9:30 a.m. (loser eliminated, winner switches brackets)
Game 10 - (E4) Millersville vs. (W1) Mercyhurst, 12:30 p.m. (loser eliminated, winner switches brackets)
Game 11 - Game 9 winner vs. (E2) Shippensburg, 3:30 p.m. (loser eliminated if Game 9 winner loses, or rematch if Game 8 winner loses)
Game 12 - Game 10 winner vs. (E3) Kutztown, 6:30 p.m. (loser eliminated if Game 10 winner loses, or rematch if Game 7 winner loses)
 
Saturday, May 5
If only one game needed
Game 13 - Championship Game, 1 p.m.
If two games needed
Game 13 - Game 11/12 Winner vs. Game 11/12 loser, 12 p.m.
Game 14 - Championship Game, 3 p.m.
If three games needed
Game 13 - Game 11/12 winner vs. Game 11/12 loser, 10 a.m.
Game 14 - Game 11/12 winner vs. Game 11/12 loser, 1 p.m.
Game 15 - Championship Game, 4 p.m.