BUTLER, Pa. (April 29) – The Vulcans managed just two hits and were held scoreless in an 8-0 loss against Millersville on Wednesday night at Kelly Automotive Park in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament.

With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team falls to 24-21 overall. The Vulcans will play an elimination game tomorrow, Thursday, April 30, against Shippensburg at 12:30 p.m. Meanwhile, the Marauders improve to 39-9 this season and will face Seton Hill tomorrow afternoon.

Millersville, which earned the top seed from the PSAC East, threatened to take the lead in the bottom of the second before jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the third. The inning started with a walk before a throwing error gave the Marauders runners on first and second with no outs. Taylor then induced a pop-up and a fielder's choice before Millersville delivered a two-run single with both runs being unearned.

In the fifth, the Marauders led off the inning with back-to-back doubles and later added an RBI single before designated hitter John Brogan followed with a two-run homer. Left fielder Kurt Seiders later added a solo homer to force senior starting pitcher Justin Taylor (Julian, Pa./Bald Eagle) from the game.

Freshman second baseman Garrett Brooks (Connellsville, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) collected the first hit for the Vulcans with a leadoff single in the top of the sixth, snapping a streak of 15-straight batters retired by sophomore Brandon Miller. Millersville added another insurance run in the bottom of inning on a fielder's choice after Cal U committed its season-high fourth error of the game.

Relief pitchers Carter Krick (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) and Cam Maxey (Mechanicsville, Va./Atlee) prevented the Marauders from adding to their lead by inducing inning-ending doubles plays in both the seventh and eighth. In the top of the ninth, junior center fielder Mick Fennell (Butler, Pa./Butler) lined a one-out double and advanced to third on a wild pitch before Miller retired the next two batters in order to preserve the shutout.

Miller (11-1), an All-PSAC East First-Team selection, tossed just 109 pitches over 9.0 innings for his third complete-game shutout of the season. He registered a career-high 12 strikeouts while limiting the Vulcans to just three baserunners on two hits and one walk. Taylor (2-5) suffered the loss after allowing seven runs (five earned) on seven hits and two walks over 4.2 innings (98 pitches).

Cal U returns to Kelly Automotive Park tomorrow for an elimination game against Shippensburg at 12:30 a.m. The Vulcans and Raiders split a regular-season doubleheader last year, while Shippensburg won the last post-season meeting between the two teams in the 2012 PSAC Tournament.

PSAC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Wednesday, April 29
Game 1 – (W3) Slippery Rock d. (E2) West Chester, 9-9
Game 2 - (E4) East Stroudsburg d. (W1) Mercyhurst, 18-11
Game 3 - (W2) Seton Hill d. (E3) Shippensburg, 11-5
Game 4 – (E1) Millersville d. (W4) California, 8-0

Thursday, April 30
Game 5 - (E2) West Chester vs. (W1) Mercyhurst, 9:30 a.m. (loser eliminated)
Game 6 - (E3) Shippensburg vs. (W4) California, 12:30 p.m. (loser eliminated)
Game 7 - (W3) Slippery Rock vs. (E4) East Stroudsburg, 3:30 p.m.
Game 8 - (W2) Seton Hill vs. (E1) Millersville, 6:30 p.m.

Friday, May 1
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 10 Winner vs. Game 7 Winner, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 2 -- ** depends on number of teams remaining **
IF THREE GAMES ARE NEEDED
Game 13 - Rematch of Game 11, 10 a.m.
Game 14 - Rematch of Game 12, 1 p.m.
Game 15 - Championship Game, 4 p.m.

IF TWO GAMES ARE NEEDED
Game 13 - IF Game, 11 a.m.
Game 14 - Championship Game, 2 p.m.

IF ONE GAME IS NEEDED
Game 13 - Championship Game, 12 p.m.