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JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (May 8) – The Vulcans were limited to just four hits and were held scoreless against defending-NCAA National Champion West Chester on Wednesday afternoon, suffering a 5-0 loss at Point Stadium in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament.

With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team falls to 33-17 overall. The Vulcans will play an elimination game tomorrow, Thursday, May 9, against Mercyhurst at 9:30 a.m. Meanwhile, the Golden Rams improve to 23-23-1 this season and will face Kutztown tomorrow afternoon.

West Chester, who earned the fourth seed in the PSAC East, raced out to a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first against freshman starter Jack Dennis (Toronto, Ontario/Birchmount Park). With two runners in scoring position, third baseman Chirs Pula lined a one-out single to right field before designated hitter Jordan Wlodarczyk followed with a two-run double to right-center field. Pula stretched the lead to 4-0 with a solo homer in the top of the third. In the bottom of the inning, the Vulcans collected back-to-back hits before leaving runners on the corners.

In the fourth, Cal U featured its best scoring opportunity of the afternoon after benefiting from a pair of errors. Sophomore shortstop Matt Peters (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) reached on an error and advanced to second on a single by freshman left fielder Mick Fennell (Butler, Pa./Butler). The Vulcans then loaded the bases with one out when junior right fielder Chuck Gasti (Carmichaels, Pa./Carmichaels) reached on fielding error. However, West Chester starter Joe Gunkel retired the next batter on a called third strike before inducing a ground-out to end the inning without allowing a run.

The Golden Rams had runners on first and second in the fifth before the Vulcans made a pitching change. After both runners advanced on a wild pitch, West Chester loaded the bases with tremendous base running on a fielder's choice down the third-base line. The Golden Rams then drew a bases-loaded walk, 5-0, before redshirt senior Eric Francis (New Castle, Pa./Shenango) struck out the next batter and a fielder's choice ended the inning. West Chester looked to add to its lead in the sixth before Fennell ended the inning by throwing out a runner at home attempting to score from second.

In the bottom of the sixth, Peters lined a one-out double to left-center field for the team's only extra-base hit of the game. However, two-straight fielder's choices ended the threat without a run.

Dennis (3-1) suffered the loss after allowing a career-high five runs (all earned) on seven this and three walks in 4.1 innings (76 pitches). Francis registered three strikeouts in 1.2 innings of relief, while sophomore Kyle Mann (DuBois, Pa./DuBois Central Catholic) allowed just two hits in 3.0 scoreless innings of relief. Gunkel improve to 7-4 this season with a four-hit, complete-game shutout with seven strikeouts in 9.0 innings (102 pitches).

The Vulcans left eight runners on base after going 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

Cal U returns to Point Stadium tomorrow for an elimination game against Mercyhurst at 9:30 a.m. The Vulcans won three of four meetings against the Lakers during the regular season, while Mercyhurst has won the only post-season meeting between the two teams (2011 PSAC Tournament).

PSAC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE (UPDATED)
Wednesday, May 8
Game 1 - (E2) Kutztown d. (W3) Mercyhurst, 6-1
Game 2 - (E4) West Chester d. (W1) California (Pa.), 5-0
Game 3 - (E3) East Stroudsburg d. (W2) Gannon, 8-5

Thursday, May 9
Game 4 - (E1) Millersville vs. (W4) Slippery Rock, 8 a.m. (originally scheduled for 5/8 at 6:30 p.m.)
Game 5 - (W3) Mercyhurst vs. (W1) California (Pa.), 11 a.m. (loser eliminated)
Game 6 - (W2) Gannon vs. Game 4 Loser, 2 p.m. (loser eliminated)
Game 7 - (E2) Kutztown vs. (E4) West Chester, 5 p.m.
Game 8 - (E3) East Stroudsburg vs. Game 4 Winner, 8 p.m.

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

Saturday, May 11**
** Depends on number of team's remaining **
IF THREE GAMES ARE NEEDED
Game 13 - Rematch of Game 11
Game 14 - Rematch of Game 12
Game 15 - Championship Game