WILSON, N.C. (March 7) – Despite a career-high 12 strikeouts from sophomore Dylan Brosky (East Millsboro, Pa./Brownsville), the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team fell by a 1-0 margin against Shepherd on Saturday night in non-conference play at Fleming Stadium.
 
With the loss, the Vulcans drop to 5-4 overall after playing their third-straight game decided by one run. Meanwhile, the Rams claim their four-consecutive victory to improve to 10-7 this season and hold a 2-0 record versus Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West opponents.
 
Brosky delivered a stellar performance in the no-decision, tossing 7.2 scoreless innings (117 pitches) and scattering five hits behind a career-high 12 strikeouts. He struck out nine batters swinging, while forcing six fly-outs and five ground-outs against the Rams. The 12-strikeout performance matches former All-American Randy Sturgill (2007-11) for the most strikeouts in a game since 2011 when he achieved the feat twice that year.
 
In the top of the first, Brosky stranded a pair of runners on base, including a runner on third, to keep the game scoreless. Junior third basemen Louden Conte (California, Pa./California) laced a single to right-center with one out in the bottom of the first before advancing to second on a throwing error. Shepherd would escape the bottom half of the frame with a strikeout. After a scoreless second and third inning, Brosky retired the side on three-straight strikeouts in the top of the fourth.
 
Redshirt freshman left fielder David Lee (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) recorded a single up the middle with one out in the bottom of the fifth. Redshirt freshman second baseman Tyler Bywalski (South Park, Pa./South Park) then reached base on a bunt single before a sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position. The Rams stranded both runners on base on a foul-out in the infield.
 
In the seventh, Shepherd started the inning with a single up the middle before a pinch-runner moved to second on a stolen base. With two outs, a wild pitch advanced the runner to third base before Brosky forced a ground-out and a strikeout to end the frame.
 
The Rams drew a walk to begin the ninth inning before a sacrifice bunt and a balk advanced the runner to third base. Shepherd then posted an RBI single down the left-field line to take a 1-0 lead. Cal U was held without a hit over the final three innings of the contest in the loss.
 
Junior Richie Serignese (New Castle, Pa./Neshannock) suffered the loss (1-1) after yielding one run on one hit with two strikeouts over 1.1 innings of relief. Senior Steve Bowley improved to 2-2 this season after surrendering five hits with one walk and eight strikeouts in 8.0 scoreless innings (108 pitches). Teammate Eric O'Brien secured the save after tossing 1.0 scoreless inning of relief with two strikeouts.
 
The Vulcans return to action tomorrow, Sunday, March 8, at Fleming Stadium in North Carolina versus Ohio Dominican with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.