Baseball | 3/5/2018 5:42:00 PM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

    WASHINGTON, Pa. – The California (Pa.) University baseball team scored five unearned runs with two out in the bottom of the seventh here Monday afternoon to pull out a 7-6 win and complete a doubleheader sweep against West Liberty at Wild Things Park.
    After coming out on the short end of a 6-2 tally in the opener, Coach Eric Burkle's Hilltoppers (2-5) seemed ready to turn the tables on the Vulcans (7-2) when they took a 6-2 lead into the last inning of the finale.
    California's leadoff man reached on an error but the WLU bullpen retired the next two hitters on a groundout and strikeout to leave the Black and Gold just one out away from victory.
    It never came.
    Chris Wastchuk jerked a 3-1 pitch over the wall in right center to make it a 6-4 game and three straight walks followed to load the bases, bringing Bobby Thompson to the plate.
    Thompson took the first pitch for a ball and then slapped a single to right. That brought home the runners from second and third to tie the score and the runner from first came all the way around for the game-winner when the throw from the outfield got away for the second error of the inning.
    The disappointing conclusion spoiled a strong mound outing by West Liberty's Parker Dyson, who scattered three hits and struck out seven while yielding two runs - only one of which was earned - through the first five innings.
    Tyler Ramsay swung the big bat for WLU, doubling home a run in the top of the third and adding a solo homer in the sixth, while Hunter Westlake came through with a three-run double in the top of the third.
    In the opener, the Hilltoppers grabbed an early 1-0 lead when Westlake led off the top of the second with a triple into the right-centerfield gap and jogged home on a Coby Eckstein grounder.
    The Vulcans broke through for a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame, added a single tally in the third and pushed the lead to 6-1 with a three-spot in the fourth.
    Eckstein homered to lead off the seventh for West Liberty but California escaped with no further damage to seal the win.
    The Hilltoppers are scheduled to open Mountain East Conference play on Saturday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader at UVa-Wise.
  West Liberty                               010 000 1 – 2    8  0
California (Pa.)                           021 300 x – 6  11  1
     WLU: Retzer lp (3SO, 2W), Stewart (4) (1SO, 0W), Grimm (5) (3SO, 1W) and Davis, Harper (5). Eckstein HR, 2rbi; Westlake T
     Cal: Riggle wp (4SO, 0W), Serignese (6) (1SO, 0W) and Webb. Webb D, S, 2rbi; Wastchak D, S, rbi; Thompson D, S; Krause 2S, rbi; Logan D, rbi
  West Liberty                               014 001 0 – 6  6  5
California (Pa.)                           100 001 5 – 7  6  0
     WLU: Dyson (7SO, 2W), Viakley (6) (1SO, 1W), Nees lp (7) (1SO, 3W), Hildreth (7) (0SO, 0W) and Cooley. Ramsay HR, D, 2rbi; Westlake D, 3rbi
     Cal: Robinson (1SO, 2W), Kail (2SO, 2W), Krick wp (1SO, 0W) and Hitman. Wastchak HR, 2rbi; Fairman D; Webb D; Thompson S, 2rbi; Marchetti S, rbi