• Game 1 Box Score
• Game 2 Box Score

INDIANA, Pa. (April 17) – After being shutout in Game 1, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team rallied to score eight-straight runs in the nightcap before losing 9-8 to IUP on Saturday afternoon at Owen Dougherty Field in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action.

Following the doubleheader, the Vulcans and Crimson Hawks are now tied for first place with a 15-5 record in the PSAC West standings entering the final week of the regular season. Cal U holds a 24-14 overall record, while IUP improves to 23-20 after winning three games over the weekend.

In the nightcap, Cal U trailed 8-1 after two innings before scoring four runs on four-straight hits in the top of the fifth. After back-to-back singles to start the frame, sophomore center fielder Troy Handza (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler) lined a RBI single before senior right fielder Sam DiMatteo (Center, Pa./Center) followed with a two-run double.

IUP threatened to expand its lead in the bottom of the inning when it had two runners in scoring position with two outs before senior reliever Sean Welsh (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East) induced a comebacker to end the threat.

The Vulcans evened the score in the top of the sixth behind back-to-back homers by Handza and DiMatteo. Handza belted a two-run homer (eight of the season; 10th of his career) before DiMatteo followed with a solo longball (ninth of the season; 29th of his career).

After recording two early outs in the sixth, Welsh faced a bases-loaded situation before throwing a wild pitch on a 2-2 count that allowed the game-winning run to score. He prevented the deficit form getting any larger after forcing a grounder to end the inning. In the top of the seventh, the Vulcans managed only a one-out walk before ending the game with two flyouts.

Welsh (0-4) was saddled with the loss after allowing only one run on six hits and two walks in 4.0 innings of relief. Senior starter Ryan Lavrusky (Temple Terrace, Fla./King) took a no-decision despite allowing eight runs (six earned) on nine hits in 1.2 innings. Crimson Hawks' reliever Stephen Cooke (4-2) picked up the win after yielding three runs (two earned) on three hits in 2.2 innings of work.

DiMatteo and Handza each finished with two hits, three RBI and two runs scored. Freshman catcher Kyle Petty (Stewartsville, N.J./Phillipsburg) and junior left fielder Chuck Faust (Hershey, Pa./Hershey) each tallied a RBI in Game 2.

In Game 1, freshman left-hander Tyler Zimm (Fayetteville, W.Va./Oak Hill) suffered the loss after being roughed up for a season-high nine runs (eight earned) on nine hits and four walks. IUP's Josh Hildebrand (3-2) tossed a three-hit, complete-game shutout and issued only one walk in 7.0 innings.

The Crimson Hawks jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, highlighted by a two-run homer from first baseman Kyle Stryker. After allowing three runs, ZImm retired nine-straight batters before IUP added a run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fifth and sealed the victory with five runs in the sixth inning.

Cal U looked to avoid the shutout when it had runners on the corners with one out in the seventh before Hildebrand retired the next two batters in order.

The Vulcans return to action on Tuesday, April 20, when they host a non-conference doubleheader against Charleston (W.Va.) at CONSOL Energy Park, starting at 1 p.m.