• Box Score

MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. (March 30) – Despite holding the lead through five-plus innings, the No. 27 Vulcans suffered a 7-6 loss at No. 4 Mount Olive on Saturday afternoon and were swept by the Trojans in the three-game weekend series.

With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team falls to 16-7 overall and has played six nine-inning games this year. Meanwhile, Mount Olive improves to 31-4 this season and extends its win streak to nine games.

Both teams left runners in scoring position in the first inning before the Vulcans took a 1-0 lead in the second on a solo homer by sophomore shortstop Matt Peters (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby), his second of the year. In the top of the third, Cal U added to its lead when junior third baseman Derrik Zeroski (Clinton, Pa./West Allegheny) scored from second on an RBI single by senior catcher Kyle Petty (Stewartsville, N.J./Phillipsburg). Mount Olive answered in the bottom of the inning by collecting a pair of two-out RBI hits to tie the game, 2-2.

The Vulcans reclaimed the lead in the third by scoring four unearned runs on just two hits. With two outs, Cal U loaded the bases on a fielder's choice, an error and a walk before junior center fielder Ben Carson (Coal Center, Pa./California) drew a six-pitch walk. Petty then followed with a three-run double to left field, as the Vulcans took a 6-2 lead. In the fifth, the Trojans scored three runs after six-straight batters reached base to cut the deficit to 6-5.

Mount Olive manufactured a run early in the sixth before back-to-back, two-out hits in the inning gave the Trojans a 7-6 lead. The Vulcans were unable to threaten the rest of the game, as they were retired in order in each of the last three innings.

Freshman Mick Fennell (Butler, Pa./Butler) suffered the loss after allowing two runs (both earned) on four hits in 1.2 innings of relief. Senior starter Kyle Thomas (Munhall, Pa./Steel Valley) took a no-decision after yielding five runs (four earned) on six hits and three walks in 5.0 innings of work.

Petty finished with two of the team's six hits and posted a season-high four RBI. Zeroski scored a pair of runs while batting leadoff for the second time this year.

Trojans junior Chris Orphanos (6-0) earned the win after tossing 4.0 innings of one-hit, scoreless relief.

Cal U returns to action on Wednesday, April 3, when it hosts a nine-inning game against defending-West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) Champion and No. 26 Seton Hill at CONSOL Energy Park, starting at 3 p.m.