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JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (May 11) – Junior pitcher Randy Sturgill (Leechburg, Pa./Leechburg) set the single-season and career school records for wins on Wednesday morning, as the Vulcans opened play at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament with a 13-6 victory over Shippensburg at Point Stadium.

With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team improves to 30-16 overall and have now won 17 of its last 21 games. The Vulcans will now face Mercyhurst, who defeated East Stroudsburg (6-5) in extra innings, tomorrow, Thursday, May 12, at Point Stadium, beginning at 3:30 p.m. Meanwhile, Shippensburg falls to 22-27 this season and will face East Stroudsburg in an elimination game tomorrow at 9:30 a.m.

Sturgill became the first pitcher in school history to post 10 wins in a season, improving to 10-2 this year and breaking the previous mark of nine wins originally set by Rick Krist in 1994. The 6-1 junior allowed six runs (three earned) on nine hits and four walks in 8.0-plus innings (118 pitches) against the Raiders. He also registered four strikeouts to increase his PSAC-leading total to 107, which breaks the single-season school mark of 106 set by former major-leaguer Rick Krivda in 1991. Sturgill also surpassed Krivda for first place in school history with his 23rd career victory, which is tied for 13th in PSAC history.

After a scoreless first two innings, Cal U took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third on two singles. Sophomore second baseman Evan King (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) reached on a fielding error and advanced to second on a bunt single by senior third baseman Aaron Ordy (Butler, Pa./Butler). After another bunt single loaded the bases, senior first baseman Adam Links (New Hope, Pa./Central Bucks East) gave the Vulcans a 1-0 lead with a sacrifice fly before senior left fielder Sean Welsh (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East) tallied a RBI ground-out. Cal U added to its lead in the fourth with a two-out RBI single by King, 3-0.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Raiders cut the deficit to 3-2 before tying the game at 3-3 in the fourth on back-to-back, two-out hits. Cal U answered with three runs in the sixth to reclaim the lead, 6-3. Senior right fielder Chuck Faust (Hershey, Pa./Hershey) led off the inning with a solo homer over the 30-foot, left-field wall. After a walk, junior designated hitter Kyle Bowser (Stoystown, Pa./North Star) reached on a bunt single and both runners moved into scoring position on the play after a throwing error by the catcher. Shippensburg committed another error on a failed pickoff attempt that allowed the runner to score from third, while Bowser scored on a double play.

The Vulcans continued to add to their lead, 9-3, in the seventh when sophomore catcher Kyle Petty (Stewartsville, N.J./Phillipsburg) lined a three-run triple high off the brick wall in left-center field. Shippensburg capitalized on a throwing error in the bottom of the inning before Cal U countered with two runs in the top of the eighth to stretch the lead to 11-4. Handza started the inning with a double and moved to third on a failed pickoff attempt before scoring on a RBI single by Welsh. Following a walk and double steal, Welsh scored on a sacrifice fly by Faust.

In the ninth, Cal U scored two runs while not tallying a hit to increase its lead to 11-6. Petty reached on a walk and scored on a passed ball and King also reached on a walk before scoring on a wild pitch. In the bottom of the inning, the Raiders scored two runs on one single, two walks and two errors before senior pitcher Corry Ryan (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) closed out the 13-6 victory.

Handza and Ordy each went a combined 3-for-6 and scored one run, while four other Vulcans collected multi-hit games on Wednesday. Welsh and Faust both posted a pair of hits and tallied two RBI with Faust scoring a game-high three runs. King finished 2-for-4 with one RBI, two runs and stole his team-leading 24th base of the season, and Teagarden was 2-for-4 with one run.

Shippensburg starter Tom Bush (6-3) suffered the loss after allowing five runs (three earned) on nine hits and two walks in 5.0-plus innings. The Raiders then used five relievers over the final four innings and finished the game with five errors.

The Vulcans will be facing the Lakers for the fourth time this season, with Mercyhurst winning two of the three meetings. Cal U posted a 1-0 win at Mercyhurst in April behind a one-hit, complete-game shutout by sophomore Kyle Thomas (Munhall, Pa./Steel Valley).

To follow all the games in the PSAC Tournament via live stats, please click here.

2011 PSAC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Wednesday, May 11
Game 1 - California (Pa.) d. Shippensburg, 13-6
Game 2 - Mercyhurst d. East Stroudsburg, 6-5 (11 innings)
Game 3 - Bloomsburg d. Slippery Rock, 11-6
Game 4 - IUP d. Millersville, 6-5

Thursday, May 12
Game 5 - Shippensburg vs. East Stroudsburg, 9:30 a.m. (loser eliminated)
Game 6 - Slippery Rock vs. Millersville, 12:30 p.m. (loser eliminated)
Game 7 - California (Pa.) vs. Mercyhurst, 3:30 p.m. (loser switches brackets)
Game 8 - Bloomsburg vs. IUP, 6:30 p.m. (loser switches brackets)

Friday, May 13
Game 9 - Game 5 Winner vs. Game 8 Loser, 9:30 p.m. (loser eliminated)
Game 10 - Game 6 Winner vs. Game 7 Loser, 12:30 p.m. (loser eliminated)
Game 11 - Game 9 Winner vs. Game 8 Winner, 3:30 p.m.
Game 12 - Game 10 Winner vs. Game 7 Winner, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 14
If only one game needed
Game 13 - Championship Game, 1:00 p.m.

If two games needed
Game 13 - Game 11/12 Winner vs. Game 11/12 Loser, 12:00 p.m.
Game 14 - Championship Game, 3:00 p.m.

If three games needed
Game 13 - Bracket B (rematch of Game 11), 10:00 a.m.
Game 14 - Bracket A (rematch of Game 12), 1:00 p.m.
Game 15 - Championship Game, 4:00 p.m.