WILSON, N.C. (March 10) – Despite a multi-homer game from redshirt freshman designated hitter David Lee (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson), the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team suffered a 10-5 loss at Barton (N.C.) in non-conference play on Tuesday evening at Fleming Stadium.
 
With the loss, the Vulcans drop to 6-5 overall while playing their first road contest of the season. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs extend their winning streak to three-straight and improve to 12-12 this year.
 
In the bottom of the first, Barton collected four hits and capitalized on two errors after taking a 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly with no outs. The Bulldogs stretched the lead to 3-0 on a pair of RBI singles to center field before Cal U closed the frame with a fly-out to strand two runners.
 
Freshman first baseman Carter Chinn (Grove City, Pa./Grove City) and sophomore second baseman Jacob McCaskey (Tarentum,Pa./Deer Lakes) started the top of the second with a pair of singles before Lee belted a three-run homer to left field, his first collegiate homer, to tie the game at 3-3. The Vulcans followed with two singles with one out, but Barton halted the threat with a fly-out and strikeout to leave both runners on base. In the bottom half, the Bulldogs drove across a run on an RBI triple to reclaim the lead before a sacrifice fly stretched the advantage to 5-3.
 
Barton added to the lead in the bottom of the third with a two-run homer from senior Trevor Edior, his third of the year, before junior Tyler Robinson followed with an inside-the-park homer after a collision in the outfield, 8-3. In the top of fourth, freshman right fielder Cade Patterson (Irwin, Pa./Penn-Trafford) posted a leadoff double down the left-field line before redshirt freshman Kyle Comini (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) singled to center field. Junior third baseman Louden Conte (California, Pa./California) then delivered a single through the left side to cut the deficit to 8-4. The Bulldogs escaped any further damage by retiring the next two batters to close the frame.
 
After a scoreless fifth inning, the Bulldogs extended the advantage to 10-4 on a two-run homer by junior Patrick Downum, his first of the season. In the top of eighth, Lee laced a solo homer to left field, his second of the game, to close the gap to 10-5 before Cal U was held without a hit in the final inning.
 
Lee finished 2-for-4 with two homers, four RBI and two runs scored, while freshman right fielder Cade Patterson (Irwin, Pa./Penn-Trafford) also went 2-for-4 with one run scored. Chinn tallied two hits and one run scored in his first start this season at first base.
 
Senior Bradyn Kail (Baltimore, Md./Loyola Blakefield) suffered the loss (0-1) after allowing eight runs (five earned) on 11 hits with one walk and two strikeouts over 3.0 innings (70 pitches). Freshman Devin Foster (Davidsville, Pa./Conemaugh Township) tossed 2.1 scoreless innings of relief in his second appearances of the year. Senior Nate McKenrick earned the win (2-1) after yielding one run on six hits with five strikeouts and no walks in 5.2 innings of relief (73 pitches).
 
The Vulcans conclude play in North Carolina on Wednesday, March 11, when they face No. 4 Catawba (N.C.) at 1 p.m.