MILLERSVILLE, Pa. (May 15) – Making their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 15 years, the Vulcans were eliminated from the Atlantic Regional of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday at Cooper Park with a 14-2 loss against Seton Hill and a 6-4 walk-off defeat at No. 4 Millersville.

The California (PA) baseball team finishes the season with a 38-15 overall record after playing eight post-season games over the last nine days, all at Cooper Park in Millersville, Pennsylvania. The Vulcans set the school record for victories this year while reaching the 30-win mark for the second time in four years and the 11th time since the 2004 campaign. Additionally, head coach Mike Conte earned his 800th career victory with the program earlier this month while in his 29th year with the program.

Senior Santino Marra broke the all-time school record for hits in the second game on Thursday versus the Marauders. He entered the NCAA Tournament one hit shy of tying the career record set a decade ago by former shortstop Matt Peters (2012-15). Marra closed his career on Thursday with 226 hits, plus ranked among the top-10 all-time in school history with 46 doubles (sixth), 126 RBI (ninth) and 614 at-bats (third).

Fellow senior Ryan Callahan collected four hits on Thursday to finish the year with 75 hits, the fifth-most in single-season school history. He also became the fifth different player, and the first since David Marcus in 2017, to record 20 doubles in a season. Callahan was the lone player to start all 53 games this year and finished in a tie for the second-most at-bats (192) in a year in school history.

Against fifth-seeded Seton Hill (38-15), the Griffins scored multiple runs in each of the initial four innings to seize a 12-0 lead and the Vulcans were limited to just two hits in the loss. Redshirt junior starting pitcher Roman Gill (5-3) suffered the loss after surrendering eight runs (all earned) on six hits and two walks in 2.2 innings (66 pitches). Sophomore Josh Bryson logged a career-high 6.0 innings (70 pitches) of relief after never working more than 3.1 innings in 35 previous career appearances. He allowed two runs (both earned) on three hits and one walk on Thursday against Seton Hill.

The Griffins took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first on a three-run homer by third baseman Brady McGuire with two outs. Seton Hill added a two-run double and a sacrifice fly in the second inning to extend the lead to a 6-0 margin. The Griffins plated four runs in the third behind four-straight hits with two outs, 10-0.

In the fourth, Seton Hill opened the inning with a double and triple before adding another run on a sacrifice fly. The Giffins collected a two-out RBI single in the fifth to stretch the lead to a 13-0 margin. Cal avoided the shutout in the bottom of the inning when Callahan drew a bases-loaded walk.

Seton Hill scored again in the sixth on a sacrifice fly, as Bryson retired the final 12 batters he faced in order. In the eighth, Callahan led off with a double and later scored on a fielder's choice after the Vulcans loaded the bases with consecutive hit by pitches.

Callahan finished with two hits, one RBI and one run scored, while sophomore shortstop Caleb Collins posted one hit, one RBI and one run scored.

Against top-seeded and host Millersville (43-8), the Vulcans held a 4-1 entering the bottom of the ninth before the Marauders scored five runs on five hits. Millersville capped the comeback with a walk-off, two-run homer by designated hitter Matthew Williams on a 0-2 count with two outs.

Marra broke the all-time school record with a two-out single to right field in the top of the first inning before Cal left runners on first and second. The Marauders managed to manufacture one run on just one hit in the bottom of the inning, 1-0.

In the third, the Vulcans tied the score on a leadoff homer by sophomore center fielder Ikon Jones – his third of the year. Cal later claimed a 2-1 lead on a two-out solo homer by Callahan, his career-high ninth of the season, before Marra was stranded at second following a double. The Vulcans again left a runner in scoring position in the fourth and fifth innings before the Marauders threatened in the fifth. Millersville had runners on the corners with one out before junior starting pitcher Nathan Holmes induced an inning-ending double play.

Senior second baseman Nathan Meeks started the sixth with a double and junior designated hitter Colin Patterson followed with a two-run homer – his first since the 2013 campaign – to extend the lead to a 4-1 margin. The Marauders left a two-out base runner on in both the seventh and eighth innings.

In the ninth, Millersville faced a three-run deficit while battling against junior Jake Kramer – the all-time school and conference leader in saves. The Marauders cut the deficit to a 4-2 margin after starting the inning with three-straight hits. Millersville then scored again on squeeze play that resulted in an out at first base before a single led to runners on the corners. The umpires called Kramer for a balk, the first since his freshman year, that allowed the tying run to score. With the go-ahead runner now in scoring position, Kramer forced a fly-out to center field for the second out before Williams delivered the walk-off homer, his 16th longball of the season and 33rd of his career.

Kramer (4-1) suffered the loss after surrendering five runs (all earned) on five hits in 1.2 innings of relief (42 pitches). He entered play having allowed only eight runs all year in 37-plus innings. Holmes took a no-decision despite limiting Millersville to one run (earned) while scattering five hits and four walks over 7.0 innings (111 pitches).

Patterson finished with two hits, highlighted by the two-run homer, while Marra reached base three times (two hits, walk). Callahan posted two hits, one RBI and one run scored.

Seton Hill and Millersville will play a single game tomorrow, Friday, May 16, at 12 p.m. before deciding the advancing team to the NCAA Super Regionals on Saturday, May 17.