WASHINGTON, Pa. (Feb. 23) – After surrendering three runs in the top of the ninth, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team suffered a 6-5 loss in a nine-inning contest versus Wheeling in non-conference action at Wild Things Park on Sunday afternoon.
 
With the loss, the Vulcans drop to 2-1 on the season while playing all three games at home. Cal U holds an 11-1 record against Wheeling, including a 7-1 mark at home, dating back to 2008. Meanwhile, the Cardinals improve to 3-2 overall after starting the season with five-straight road games.
 
In the top of the ninth inning, Wheeling trailed by a 5-3 margin before loading the bases behind a pair of walks and a single. The Cardinals then scored on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 5-4 before the Vulcans tallied a pair of strikeouts. With two outs, Wheeling delivered a two-run single through the right-side to take a 6-5 lead. Cal U looked to answer in the bottom of the frame after junior third baseman Louden Conte (California, Pa./California) started the inning with a double down the left-field line. Following a pitching change, the Cardinals retired the next three batters in order to secure the victory.
 
The Vulcans registered four runs in the bottom of the first inning after sophomore shortstop Jacob McCaskey (Tarentum, Pa./Deer Lakes) drew a leadoff walk before advancing to third on a pair of wild pitches. Conte then was hit by a pitch before stealing second to put a pair of runners into scoring position. Freshman center fielder Carter Chinn (Grove City, Pa./Grove City) followed with a walk to load the bases before a wild pitch scored McCaskey from third, 1-0. Senior Corey Fogle (Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville) also drew a walk, which resulted in Wheeling making a pitching change. With one out, junior right fielder Josh Rankin (Moon Twp., Pa./Moon) delivered a sacrifice fly to center field to stretch the lead, 2-0. Sophomore left fielder Nick Serafino (McDonald, Pa./Canon-McMillan) then laced a two-run single up the middle to give the Vulcans a 4-0 advantage.
 
Both teams went scoreless over the next three innings before the Cardinals scored on an RBI triple with two outs to cut the deficit to 4-1 in the top of the fifth. The Vulcans quickly answered in the bottom half with a leadoff solo homer to right-center from Chinn, his first of the season, 5-1.
 
In the top of the sixth, Wheeling posted an RBI single through the left side with two outs followed by an RBI double down the right-field line to close the gap to 5-3. The Vulcans would leave a total of five runners on base over the next three innings, including a pair in scoring position in the seventh. Cal U also escaped a bases-load jam in the eighth inning to retain in the lead heading into the ninth.
 
McCaskey was saddled with the loss after allowing one run on one hit with two walks and three strikeouts in 1.0 inning pitched. Sophomore starter Dylan Brosky (East Millsboro, Pa./Brownsville) took a no-decision after yielding one run on three hits with three walks and four strikeouts over 4.2 innings (89 pitches). Sophomore Patrick Gumto (Allison Park, Pa./Shaler) also tossed 2.0 innings of scoreless relief with three strikeouts and two walks. Junior Albert Baez earned the win after tossing 1.0 scoreless inning of relief, while senior Nick Luciano secured the save with 1.0 inning of relief.

Conte went 2-for-3 with one walk and one stolen base, while Chinn reached base four times (solo homer, three walks) with two runs scored. Serafino finished 1-for-4 with two RBI and one stolen base in the loss. 
 
The Vulcans return to action next weekend when they host a four-game series against Walsh, beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 29, starting at 1 p.m.