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WASHINGTON, Pa. (April 9) – The California University of Pennsylvania baseball team recorded its second walk-off win of the season on Wednesday afternoon, drawing a bases-loaded walk in the ninth inning to earn a 9-8 non-conference victory against Penn State-Greater Allegheny.

With the win, the Vulcans improve to 18-13 overall behind a 15-7 mark at home. Meanwhile, the Lions drop to 15-8 this season after entering play on a seven-game winning streak.

In the bottom of the ninth, senior center fielder Ben Carson (Coal Center, Pa./California) reached on a leadoff walk and advanced to second on sacrifice bunt that allowed senior second baseman Giovanni Morales (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) to reach on a fielding error. Senior right fielder Chuck Gasti (Carmichaels, Pa./Carmichaels) followed with a sharp single that the shortstop managed to keep within the infield and prevent Carson from possibly scoring from second. With no outs and the infield playing in, junior pinch hitter Justin Taylor (Julian, Pa./Bald Eagle) drew a five-pitch walk that allowed Carson to score the game-winning run.

The Vulcans set a season high by drawing 12 walks and collected eight hits in the victory. Cal U loaded the bases in four different innings and finished the game with nine runners left on base, including six in scoring position. Junior shortstop Matt Peters (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) paced the offense by going 3-for-5 with a two-run homer, three RBI and one run scored. Morales reached base safely in all three plate appearances – two singles and an error – after entering the game as a pinch hitter in the fourth inning. Carson collected a pair of RBI and sophomore third baseman Mick Fennell (Butler, Pa./Butler) scored three runs after reaching base on two walks and a hit pitch.

Greater Allegheny jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first behind a three-run homer by first baseman Adam Wehr. The Vulcans countered with a bases-loaded walk by Carson in the bottom of the inning before tying the score at 4-4 in the second. With the bases loaded, sophomore designated hitter David Marcus (Whitby, Ontario/Father Leo J. Austin) drew a walk before Peters and Carson collected back-to-back, two-out RBI singles.

In the third, Wehr opened the inning with a solo homer before Cal U took a 6-5 lead – its first of the game – in the bottom of the inning. The Vulcans walked the bases loaded before scoring on a sacrifice fly and a throwing error on a double steal. Greater Allegheny scored a run in the top of the fifth before Cal U reclaimed the lead to in the sixth on a two-run homer by Peters, his first of the year.

The Lions tied the game by scoring two runs in the top of the seventh after posting a pair of RBI singles. Cal U was retired in order in both the seventh and eighth innings before loading the bases in the bottom of the ninth.

Cal U utilized five different pitchers in the victory with redshirt sophomore Andre Jones (New Castle, Pa./Union) earning his first career win after working 2.0 innings of scoreless, one-hit relief. Redshirt freshman Alex Ziegler (Butler, Pa./Butler) tossed a game-high and season-high 4.2 innings (70 pitches) and allowed two runs (both earned) on six hits. The Lions used four pitchers on Wednesday with junior Aaron McGee (1-2) suffering the loss after working 1.0-plus inning of relief.

The Vulcans return to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play this weekend with a four-game series against Mercyhurst, beginning with a road doubleheader in Erie, Pa., on Friday, April 11, at 1 p.m.