SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. (May 11) – Facing the top-hitting team in the league, the California (PA) baseball team suffered a 12-3 loss versus nationally-ranked Seton Hill in the second round of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament hosted by Slippery Rock on Thursday morning.
With the loss, the Vulcans move to 29-20 overall and will play an elimination game this evening, Thursday, May 11, against IUP at 5 p.m. Meanwhile, Seton Hill improves to 42-10 this season and will play again tomorrow, Friday, May 12, in the winner's bracket.
Cal tied the scored at 2-2 in the bottom of the third before Seton Hill erupted for a combined eight runs in the seventh and ninth innings. Sophomore second baseman
Santino Marra (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands) went 2-for-5 with two runs scored from the leadoff spot, while senior catcher
Justin Stewart (Butler, Pa./Butler) reached base three times (RBI single, two walks) while batting cleanup.
The Griffins claimed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a two-out RBI single and added to their lead in the second on an RBI single with runners on the corners. In the bottom half, the Vulcans drew a pair of walks before a strikeout ended the inning.
Cal tied the scored in the third inning behind two hits, one walk and a throwing error. Senior right fielder
Colby Rockacy (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks) started the inning with a walk and eventually scored on an error and Stewart later notched an RBI single up the middle to score Marra. The Griffins regained the advantage in the fifth on a sacrifice fly and added to the lead with another sacrifice fly in the sixth, 4-2.
In the seventh, Seton Hill broke the game open by scoring five runs with two outs to take a 9-2 lead after the initial two batters of the inning were retired in order. The Vulcans used three different pitchers in the seventh, as the Griffins collected back-to-back, two-run hits before leaving the bases loaded. Cal stranded the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth before Seton Hill took a 12-2 lead in the ninth on a three-run homer by designated hitter Braden Durham. The Vulcans collected three-straight singles with two outs in the bottom half, as Marra scored from second on an RBI single to left center by sophomore left fielder
Ryan Callahan (Bexley, Ohio/Bexley), 12-3.
Sophomore starting pitcher
Roman Gill (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell) was handed the loss, allowing four runs (all earned) on seven hits in 6.0 innings (64 pitches). Senior
Joshua Bogdan (Bel Air, Md./Fallston) worked 2.0 innings of relief in the contest. Griffin starting pitcher Brandon Bergert collected the win after yielding two runs (both unearned) on two hits in 6.0 innings (83 pitches) while registering seven strikeouts.
The Vulcans will play an elimination game later tonight against IUP at Jack Critchfield Park in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, at approximately 5 p.m.
