WHEELING, W.Va. (April 24) – Behind three home runs, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team claimed a 7-0 shutout victory over West Liberty in non-conference action at JB Chambers Baseball/Softball Complex on Wednesday night.
 
With the win, the Vulcans improve to 31-9 this season behind a 10-3 mark on the road. Cal U also was featured fourth in the initial Atlantic regional rankings, which were released this afternoon. Meanwhile, the Hilltoppers fall to 8-30 overall with a 1-13 record in non-conference play.
 
Senior center fielder Ben Maudie (Jackson, Mo./Jackson) started the contest with a leadoff solo homer to left field, his team-leading eighth of the season, to take a 1-0 advantage in the first inning. West Liberty attempted to answer in the bottom half with a pair of runners in scoring position before a strikeout ended the frame. After a scoreless second, senior second baseman Nico Marchetti (Laurel, Md./St. Vincent Pallotti) laced a double to right field with one out before advancing to third on wild pitch. Senior first baseman Eric Fairman (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) then drew a walk and moved to second on a stolen base. The Hilltoppers stranded both runners after recording a strikeout and ground-out to close the inning.
 
In the top of the fourth, Cal U erupted for six runs on five hits after freshman right fielder Patrick Brogan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Our Lady of the Sacred Heart) launched a leadoff solo homer to left field, his third of the year, to extend the lead to 2-0. Freshman catcher Justin Stewart (Butler, Pa./Butler) followed with a double to left field before advancing to third on a wild pitch. With two outs, Maudie drew a walk before stealing second base, which allowed Stewart to score from third, 3-0. Marchetti reached on an error to extend the inning and Maudie scored from second to stretch the lead to 4-0. Fairman then belted a two-run homer to left field, his sixth of the season, as Cal U took a 6-0 advantage. Junior designated hitter Corey Fogle (Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville) followed with a double to left-center before sophomore third baseman Louden Conte (California, Pa./California) registered an RBI double to take a 7-0 lead.

West Liberty loaded the bases in the bottom half of the inning before a line-out to left field halted the scoring opportunity. Over the final five innings, both teams combined to leave nine runners on base with only two reaching scoring position.
 
Fairman finished 2-for-3 with a two-run homer, two walks and one stolen base, while Marchetti and Stewart each tallied two hits and one run scored
 
Freshman Tyler Bedillion (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette) improved to 3-1 this season behind a career-high 10-strikeout performance. He yielded zero runs on five hits while issuing one walk over 7.0 innings. Freshman Patrick Gumto (Allison Park, Pa./Shaler) and sophomore Richie Serignese (New Castle, Pa./Neshannock) combined to toss 2.0 scoreless innings of relief with no hits to close out the game. Hilltopper sophomore Gaetan Sinisgalli suffered the loss (0-3) after surrendering seven runs (three earned) on seven hits with three walks and one strikeout in 3.2 innings.
 
Cal U returns to action Friday, April 26, when it hosts regionally-ranked Gannon in a PSAC West doubleheader at Wild Things Park, starting at 1 p.m.