COLONIAL HEIGHTS, Va. (Feb. 28) – Despite three hits from senior Mick Fennell (Butler, Pa/Butler) and sophomore Chris Wastchak (Peters Twp., Pa/Peters Township), the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team suffered a 15-7 loss against Shepherd at the Dinwiddie Challenge on Sunday.

With the loss, the Vulcans fall to 3-4 overall. Shepherd improves to 3-3 on the season with the victory. 

The Vulcans took a 1-0 lead in the first on a leadoff home run from Fennell. The Rams answered in the bottom of the inning with a three-run homer from third basemen Brandon Kirk to take a 3-1 lead. Wastchak recorded an RBI single in the second to cut the deficit to 3-2. The Rams countered by scoring four runs in the fourth, including a three-run home run from shortstop Tre Porter.  

Cal U added two runs in the fifth with an RBI groundout from junior left fielder Danny McGrath (Murrysville, Pa/Franklin Regional) and an RBI single from Wastchak. Cal U added another run in the sixth on an RBI single from sophomore shortstop Austin Logan (Beaver, Pa./Beaver) before Shepherd responded by scoring three runs on a pair of RBI singles. Sophomore third basemen Levi Krause (East Berlin, Pa./Spring Grove) added an RBI single in the seventh while the Rams countered with a three-run homer from catcher Christian Hamel. Wastchak recorded another RBI single in the top of the eighth that was matched with an RBI single from Shepherd.

Fennell went 3-5 with a solo homer and three runs scored and Wastchak finished 3-for-5 with three RBI. Sophomore starter Carter Krick (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) suffered the loss after yielding seven runs (all earned) on nine hits in 3.2 innings of work. Shepherd starter A.J. Stead was the winning pitcher allowing five runs (earned) on eight hits in 6.2 innings pitched. 

The Vulcans return to action on Monday, Feb. 29, as they face Slippery Rock in Colonial Heights, Virginia, at 10 a.m.