JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (May 8) – The Vulcans scored two runs in top of the ninth to tie the score before falling in extra innings versus West Chester by a 6-5 margin on Wednesday morning during the opening day for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament at Point Stadium.
 
With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team falls to 35-14 this season and moves to the loser's bracket to face East Stroudsburg in an elimination game tomorrow, Thursday, May 9, at 9:30 a.m. Meanwhile, the Golden Rams improve to 30-13 overall and remain in the winner's bracket to face Gannon.
 
In the top of the ninth, freshman shortstop Jacob McCaskey (Tarentum, Pa./Deer Lakes) led off with a double down the left-field line before advancing to third on a passed ball. Junior designated hitter Corey Fogle (Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville) then laced an RBI triple to right field to close the gap to 5-4. Sophomore Bill Hitman (Norristown, Pa./Pope John Paul II) entered the game as a pinch hitter and reached on a slow roller to the pitcher to put runners on the corners. Senior center fielder Ben Maudie (Jackson, Mo./Jackson) followed with a sacrifice fly to tie the contest at 5-5. Senior second baseman Nico Marchetti (Laurel, Md./St. Vincent Pallotti) reached on a fielder's choice and stole second base. Senior first baseman Eric Fairman (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) then was intentionally walked and senior catcher Kristian Webb (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. The rally was halted on an infield pop-out. In the bottom half, West Chester loaded the bases on a double and pair of walks with one out. Cal U escaped the jam on a strikeout and a pop-out to send the game into extra innings. The Vulcans went scoreless in the top of the 10th before the Golden Rams started the bottom half of the inning with a hit by pitch. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second base before they advanced to third on a ground ball to the second baseman. Sophomore Zach Wright then laced a walk-off single through the right side to secure the 6-5 victory.
 
West Chester senior Kyle Feaster drew a walk to start the contest before advancing to third on a ground-out. Senior Jared Melone, the two-time PSAC East Athlete of the Year, then delivered a ground-rule double to give the Golden Rams a 1-0 lead. After a scoreless second inning, Fogle ​​​​drew a leadoff walk in the third before advancing on a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Marchetti laced a single to right field to tie the game at 1-1. In the bottom half, Melone posted a double to center field, but sophomore third baseman Louden Conte (California, Pa./California) made a diving stop down the right-field line during the next at-bat to strand the runner in scoring position.
 
Conte notched a single to right-center with one out in the top of the fourth before McCaskey registered an RBI triple down the right-field line, as the Vulcans took a 2-1 lead. Cal U was retired in order in the top of the fifth before West Chester placed a pair of runners on base on a double and a walk. Melone followed with a three-run homer, his 10th of the year, on the first pitch of the at-bat to take a 4-2 advantage. In the seventh frame, freshman right fielder Patrick Brogan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Our Lady of the Sacred Heart) hit a double off the left-field wall before Fogle drew a walk with one out. Maudie then registered an RBI single to right field to cut the deficit to 4-3. A pickoff ended the Cal U rally and left the tying run on third base. In the bottom half, junior left fielder Aaron Previsky (California, Pa./California) stole a hit on a diving grab before Wright laced a double down the left-field line. On the following play, McCaskey threw out the lead runner at third on a fielder's choice, as the Vulcans remained within a run of the lead. Fairman singled to left field with one out in the eighth before Conte put runners on the corners on a single up the middle. Cal U would leave both runners stranded after a strikeout ended the inning.
 
McCaskey finished with two hits, one RBI and one run scored, while Conte and Brogan both went 2-for-5 with one run scored. Fogle finished 1-for-2 with one RBI, two runs scored and three walks.
 
Sophomore Hunter Robinson (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central) was saddled with the loss (0-2) after yielding one run (earned) on one hit with one strikeout in 1.0 inning of relief. Junior starter Nick Riggle (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks) took a no-decision after surrendering five runs (all earned) on seven hits with four walks and four strikeouts over 8.0 innings (116 pitches). Golden Ram senior Tim Edwards earned the win (4-1) after tossing 1.0 scoreless inning of relief with no hits and three strikeouts. Teammate Jon Fisher posted a no-decision after allowing three runs (all earned) on six hits with two walks and nine strikeouts in 6.2 innings (116 pitches).
 
Cal U return to action tomorrow, Thursday, May 9, when it faces East Stroudsburg in an elimination game in the PSAC Tournament at Point Stadium in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, starting at 9:30 a.m.