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JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (May 12) – After allowing five runs in the top of the eighth, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team rallied to tie the score in the ninth before suffering an 11-10 loss in 10 innings to No. 21 Mercyhurst in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament on Thursday evening at Point Stadium.

With the loss, the Vulcans fall to 30-17 this season and will play an elimination game against No. 8 Millersville tomorrow, Friday, May 13, at 12:30 p.m. Meanwhile, Mercyhurst improves to 37-10 overall and will face the winner of Cal U-Millersville tomorrow at 6:30 p.m.

The Vulcans held a 9-3 lead after seven innings before the Lakers scored five runs on two hits and two errors in the top of the eighth to take the lead, 10-9. With the bases loaded and two outs, second baseman Zak Blair collected a two-run double before scoring on a wild pitch and left fielder Kevin McCall scored the go-ahead run on a throwing error. Senior Sean Welsh (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East), who started the game in left field, then took over in relief and recorded a strikeout on a called third strike to end the rally.

After stranding a pair of runners in scoring position in the eighth, Cal U manufactured a run in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings. Welsh led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt before moving to third on a single by senior first baseman Adam Links (New Hope, Pa./Central Bucks East). Sophomore catcher Kyle Petty (Stewartsville, N.J./Phillipsburg) then followed with a sacrifice fly to shallow right field with Welsh able to avoid the tag at home to tie the game, 10-10.

The Lakers again loaded the bases in the 10th, scoring the eventual game-winning run on a two-out single by Craig Denman before senior Troy Handza (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler) ended the inning by throwing out McCall at home on the play. In the bottom of the inning, Cal U had the tying and winning runs on base before Mercyhurst's Sam O'Neill induced a ground-out to end the game.

O'Neill (3-2) earned the win after allowing one run (earned) on three hits in 2.1 innings (32 pitches). Lakers' starter Nick Gillung, an All-PSAC West First-Team selection, was roughed up for six runs (all earned) on eight hits in 2.2 innings (82 pitches) of work.

In the two games at the PSAC Tournament, Cal U has combined to score 23 runs on 31 hits. Senior third baseman Aaron Ordy (Butler, Pa./Butler) posted a team-high three hits on Thursday, while four other Vulcans posted two hits in the loss. Petty finished 2-for-4 with a two-run homer, four RBI and one run, while Links went 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs. Welsh collected two hits and scored three runs and Handza tallied a pair of singles and scored one run. Senior shortstop Casey Teagarden (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) posted a single in the third to extend his hitting streak to 12 games and is now hitting .385 (15-for-39) during that span.

One of five pitchers used by Cal U, Welsh (1-2) suffered the loss after yielding one run (earned) on three hits in 2.1 innings (41 pitches). Sophomore starter Kyle Thomas (Munhall, Pa./Steel Valley) allowed four runs (all earned) on seven hits and one walk in 3.2 innings (58 pitches).

The Vulcans last played Millersville during the 2008 regular season, sweeping a doubleheader. The Marauders earned the top seed out of the PSAC East and entered the double-elimination tournament as the top seed in the Atlantic Region.

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 d. East Stroudsburg, 5-4 (East Stroudsburg eliminated)
Game 6 - Millersville d. Slippery Rock, 7-5 (Slippery Rock eliminated)
Game 7 - Mercyhurst d. California (Pa.), 11-10 (10 innings)
Game 8 - IUP d. Bloomsburg, 7-5

Friday, May 13
Game 9 - Shippensburg vs. Bloomsburg, 9:30 a.m. (loser eliminated)
Game 10 - Millersville vs. California (Pa.), 12:30 p.m. (loser eliminated)
Game 11 - Game 9 Winner vs. IUP, 3:30 p.m.
Game 12 - Game 10 Winner vs. Mercyhurst, 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.