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WASHINGTON, Pa. (Feb. 27) – The Vulcans left 15 runners on base, including nine in scoring position, while suffering an 8-5 loss to Penn State-Greater Allegheny on a rainy and cold Wednesday afternoon at CONSOL Energy Park.

With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball teams falls to 3-1 this season despite scoring at least five runs in all four games. Meanwhile, PSU-Greater Allegheny opens the year at 1-0 after posting 58 victories over the last two seasons.

Freshman Cory Craig (Youngsville, Pa./Youngsville) suffered the loss in his first collegiate start, allowing five runs (all earned) on four hits and two walks in 2.2 innings (70 pitches). Classmate Jack Dennis (Toronto, Ontario/Birchmount Park) closed the game by tossing 4.1 innings (48 pitches) of one-hit, scoreless relief.

The Lions loaded the bases with two outs in the second before Craig induced a ground-out to end the threat. In the bottom inning, Cal U took the lead with a two-run double down the right-field line by junior center fielder Ben Carson (Coal Center, Pa./California).

In the third, Greater Allegheny scored six runs on four hits, three walks, two errors and one hit by pitch. Craig retired two of the first three batters before four-straight Lions reached base safely. Following a pitching change, three more batters reached safely before a strikeout finally ended the inning. Cal U answered three runs in the bottom of the inning to trim the deficit to 6-5. Sophomore shortstop Matt Peters (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) lined an RBI triple to right-center field before freshman designated hitter David Marcus (Whitby, Ontario/Father Leo J. Austin) followed with an RBI double to left-center field. Sophomore catcher Will Kaufman (Roanoke, Va./Patrick Henry) later added a two-out RBI single to score Marcus from second.

The Lions added a pair of runs in the fifth after the inning started with back-to-back walks, 8-5. Cal U looked to counter in the bottom of the inning as the first two runners reached safely before back-to-back fielder's choice and a fly-out ended the threat.

The Vulcans again advanced runners into scoring position in the seventh and eighth innings before loading the bases on two walks and a hit by pitch in the ninth. However, the Vulcans were unable to score in the inning and finished the game going just 3-for-18 with runners in scoring position.

Marcus reached base safely in all five plate appearances, finishing 2-for-2 with one RBI, three walks and two runs scored. Carson collected a pair of hits and two RBI while batting leadoff. Senior Kyle Petty (Stewartsville, N.J./Phillipsburg) also added two hits and played three different positions in the game (third base, catcher, first base).

Lions freshman Zach Krivda (1-0) earned the win after tossing 1.0 scoreless inning of relief. The Lions used seven different pitchers in the game with only two pitchers working multiple innings.

Cal U is tentatively scheduled to host a three-game series with Fairmont State this weekend at CONSOL Energy Park, starting with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 2.