West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

(WEST LAWN, PA)---Big days by Ryne Holstine and Bo Darby propelled West Virginia State to a 7-2 win over California (PA) in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Baseball Tournament.  Holstine held the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference champions to two hits in eight innings of work, while Darby homered and doubled as part of a four-RBI afternoon.

The Jackets jumped on Cal starter Tyler Zimm for a pair of runs in the first.  Robert Hawkins slashed a one-out hit up the middle, followed by Darby driving a 3-0 pitch over the left field fence for the game's first runs.

The first of four Vulcan errors allowed State to push the lead to 3-0 in the second.  Billy Smith scored following a two-out throwing error by Cal second baseman Aaron Ordy.

Darby again delivered the key blow in a three-run Jacket fifth.  His double plated Hawkins and Josh Bower to make it 5-0.  Darby would score later in the inning when Joey Jobst doubled down the right field line for a 6-0 WVSU edge.

Two more Vulcan errors led to Bower's second run of the day in the seventh inning and 7-0 Jacket advantage.

Cal got on the scorebord in the ninth off relievers C.J. Meadows and Evan Kendall.  Doubles by Troy Handza, Adam Links, and Chuck Faust produced a pair of runs for the Vulcans.

Holstine was dominant in his eight inning stint, allowing only two hits and walking two.  He fanned six and did not give up a hit until Sean Welsh led off the sixth with a single.

Zimm, a native of Oak Hill, WV, gave up six hits and six runs in five innings.  However, he was victimized for three unearned runs, while fanning five and walking two.  He also tossed a pair of wild pitches.

WVSU stays alive to face tournament host and top-seeded Kutztown on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.  Kutztown scored four ninth inning runs to eliminate Mansfield 9-5 in Friday's opener.  California (PA) takes their first tournament loss and battles either Seton Hill or West Chester on Saturday.