WHEELING, W.Va. – The West Liberty University baseball team couldn't get anything going Wednesday night as No. 27-ranked California (Pa.) coasted to a 7-0 win in a scheduled 9-inning game at the Chambers I-470 Complex.
    Coach Eric Burkle's Hilltoppers (8-30) battled the surging Vulcans (31-9) on virtually even terms for most of the night.
    California grabbed a quick 1-0 lead when Ben Maudie led off the game with a home run over the left field fence but starting pitcher Gaetan Sinisgalli settled in after that while the WLU offense tried to respond.
    The Hilltoppers had their chances early on, putting runners in scoring position in three of the first four innings, but couldn't find a way to get on the board.
    The visitors took advantage of some shaky West Liberty fielding in the bottom of the fourth to break the game open.
    Patrick Brogan led off the inning with a solo home run and the Vulcans scratched out another run with a two-out double steal. The next batter reached on an error and California tacked on four more unearned runs to push the margin to 7-0.
    Three Vulcan hurlers held WLU to just five hits while recording 16 strikeouts with just two walks. Dalton Davis accounted for two of West Liberty's five hits with a single and a double.
    The Hilltoppers will be back on the hilltop Saturday afternoon for a 1 p.m. doubleheader against Fairmont State.