WILSON, NC (March 12) – The California University of Pennsylvania baseball team suffered its first shutout of the season, falling by a 3-0 margin against Ohio Dominican on Tuesday afternoon at Fleming Stadium.
With the loss, the Vulcans see their seven-game winning streak snapped and drop to 10-2 overall. Meanwhile, the Panthers improve to 6-7 this season behind a 2-3 record in North Carolina.
Freshman
Tyler Bedillion (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette) recorded a no-decision after tossing 6.0 scoreless innings (87 pitches) in his first career start. He yielded zero runs on four hits with four strikeouts after closing out the game yesterday versus Kutztown. Freshman
Jacob McCaskey (Tarentum,Pa./Deer Lakes) was saddled with the loss (0-2) after surrendering two runs (all earned) on one hit with three walks in 2.1 innings of relief. Ohio Dominican sophomore Tim Zeller earned the win (1-0), working 3.0 scoreless innings of relief with five strikeouts. Panther freshman Joel Roediger also took a no-decision after allowing zero runs on four hits with seven strikeouts over 6.0 innings (102 pitches).
Ohio Dominican laced a triple to left-center with one out in the top of the first inning before back-to-back strikeouts halted the scoring opportunity. In the bottom of the second, senior first baseman
Eric Fairman (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) reached base on a hit by pitch before advancing to second on a stolen base. With two outs, freshman right fielder
Patrick Brogan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Our Lady of the Sacred Heart) also was hit by a pitch before the Panthers escaped the jam on a ground-out. Ohio Dominican opened the top of the third with a single up the middle before the base runner advanced to third on a wild pitch and a stolen base. A walk later put runners on the corners before Cal U turned a double play to keep the contest scoreless. In the bottom of the fourth, sophomore third baseman
Louden Conte (California, Pa./California) led off the inning with a double to center field and moved to third on a ground-out. The Vulcans were unable to score the runner after a pop-up and fly-out ended the bottom half of the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth, freshman shortstop
Anthony Venezia (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler) singled to right-center before advancing to second on a fielding error in the outfield. He moved to third on a wild pitch before Ohio Dominican recorded consecutive outs to close out the inning. The Panthers laced a double to left-center to begin the sixth frame before the runner moved the third on a wild pitch with two outs. The Vulcans once again stranded the base runner on third after a fly-out concluded the inning. Both teams went scoreless in the seventh and eighth frame before Ohio Dominican ended the drought with three runs on two hits in the top of the ninth. The Panthers opened with a walk before a fielder's choice registered the first out of the inning. A walk put two runners on before a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position. Another walk loaded the bases until senior Brad Hull singled to left-center to give Ohio Dominican a 1-0 advantage. A sacrifice fly scored another run and a single from senior Genesis Hillard extended the lead to 3-0. Cal U was unable to responded in the bottom half after being retired in order.
Conte finished 2-for-3 with a hit by pitch, while Marchetti tallied his team-leading sixth multi-hit game of the season by going 2-for-4 on Tuesday.
The Vulcans conclude play in North Carolina on Thursday, March 14, when they face Dominican (N.Y.), starting at 11 a.m.
