Box Score
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - West Chester allowed eight runs in the top of the first inning and could never recover as California (Pa.) downed the Golden Rams, 8-3, in the second round of the 2010 PSAC Baseball Tournament at Point Park on Thursday afternoon.
Cal (31-16) advances in the winner's bracket while West Chester (36-11) falls into the loser's bracket on the second day of the tournament. West Chester will take on Slippery Rock in a rematch of the tournament opener for both schools tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m. Cal will face the winner of that contest at 3:30 p.m. later that afternoon.
For the second straight day, West Chester had trouble getting out of the first inning. Thursday, the Golden Rams could not overcome the slow start. Cal scored eight runs on seven hits to open the tilt. That big inning was aided by a couple of West Chester errors, a pair of balks and a walk. When the dust had settled, only one of the Vulcans' runs was earned.
WCU starting pitcher Fred Breidenbach (10-2) was spectacular after that fateful first. He retired the next 17 batters in a row, before Cal finally got a single in the seventh for its first base runner since the first. The Vulcans picked up three more hits in the ninth off Breidenbach, who completed the game. Breidenbach threw 149 pitches in the game and 108 of them for strikes.
It was the second straight nine-inning complete game for a West Chester starter. Wednesday, Jordan Lehman went the distance in a 7-6 win over Slippery Rock. He allowed four runs in the first inning of that tilt. However, the Rams were able to rebound and win the game.
Joe Wendle was 2-for-4 with a RBI. Charlie Kelly was 2-for-4 as well.
