WILSON, N.C. (March 14) – Despite collecting 14 hits, including three solo homers, the Vulcans suffered a 12-10 loss versus Dominican (N.Y.) on their final day in North Carolina at Fleming Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
 
With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team drops to 10-3 this season behind a 5-2 mark during their spring trip to the Tar Heel State. Meanwhile, the Chargers improve to 7-5 overall and hold a 3-0 record against Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) opponents.
 
Senior center fielder Ben Maudie (Jackson, Mo./Jackson) belted a solo homer to left field, his third of the season, on the first pitch of the bottom half of the first to give Cal U a 1-0 lead. The Vulcans threatened to score more runs later in the inning with two runners in scoring position before a strikeout closed the frame. Dominican totaled three unearned runs in the top of the second after three errors from the Vulcans to take a 3-1 advantage. Freshman shortstop Jacob McCaskey (Tarentum,Pa./Deer Lakes) opened the bottom half of the second with a single to left field and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Freshman right fielder Patrick Brogan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Our Lady of the Sacred Heart) then recorded an RBI single up the middle to cut the deficit to 3-2. A sacrifice bunt and a balk moved Brogan to third before Maudie delivered an infield single to tie the game at 3-3. The Chargers broke open the game in the top of the third with six runs on four hits, highlighted by a two-run homer from freshman Kennee Torres, as Dominican held a 9-3 lead.
 
In the bottom of the third, two walks and a hit by pitch loaded the bases for with no outs. After a strikeout, Brogan brought in a run on a sacrifice fly to trim the deficit to 9-4, but Cal U ultimately stranded runs on the corners to end the frame. The Vulcans retired the side in order before tallying three runs on three hits in the fourth. Maudie led off with a double down the left-field line before senior left fielder Nico Marchetti (Laurel, Md./St. Vincent Pallotti) drew a walk. Sophomore third baseman Louden Conte (California, Pa./California) then posted a single to right field to close the gap to 9-5. With one out, senior designated hitter Eric Fairman (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) registered a two-run single up the middle to make it a 9-7 contest. After retiring the side in the top of the fifth, Maudie launched his second solo homer of the game to center field to trim the deficit to 9-8. Conte led off the bottom of the sixth with a solo homer to left field, his third of the year, to tie the score at 9-9.
 
The Chargers reclaimed the lead in the seventh on a leadoff single and a walk before both runners advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. Dominican took the lead on an RBI single to left field and scored another run on a sacrifice fly to seize an 11-9 lead. In the top of the eighth, Dominican tallied an insurance run on an RBI single to left field before stranding runners on the corners. Conte delivered a double to right-center with one out in the bottom of the eighth before Chisam drove in a run on a double to left-center to close the gap to 12-10.
 
Maudie finished 4-for-5 with two homers, three RBI and three runs scored, while Conte went 3-for-4 with a solo homer, two RBI and three runs scored. Brogan finished 3-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored.

Senior starter Tyler Eritz (Oakdale, Pa./West Allegheny) took a no-decision after yielding nine runs (six earned) on six hits and three walks over 6.0 innings (94 pitches). Freshman Patrick Gumto (Allison Park, Pa./Shaler) was saddled with the loss (1-1) after allowing two runs (all earned) on two hits with one strikeout in 1.0 inning of relief. Freshamn Cole Francher earned the win (2-0) after surrendering two runs (all earned) on three hits with two strikeouts over 2.0 innings of relief. Fellow freshman Andrew Bandura registered the save with 3.0 innings of relief, yielding one run (earned) on four hits. Junior Eric Sandusky posted a no-decision after allowing seven runs (all earned) on seven hits with four strikeouts on Thursday.
 
Cal U returns to action on Tuesday, March 19, when it faces Wheeling Jesuit for a non-conference doubleheader in Washington, Pennsylvania, at Wild Things Park, starting at 1 p.m.