• Game 1 Box Score
• Game 2 Box Score
• Photo Gallery

WASHINGTON, Pa. (April 20) – The Vulcans scored a combined 37 runs, collected 40 hits and stole 20 bases on Tuesday afternoon in a non-conference doubleheader sweep against Charleston (W.Va.) at CONSOL Energy Park, winning 16-7 and 21-13.

With the sweep, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team improves to 26-14 overall entering the final weekend of the regular season. Meanwhile, Charleston drops to 16-24 after losing its last seven games by a combined score of 111-36.

Senior right fielder Sam DiMatteo (Center, Pa./Center) finished the doubleheader going 6-for-7 with three doubles, one triple, one homer, five RBI, six runs and three steals. An All-American outfielder, he hit for the cycle in Game 2 for the first time in his career. DiMatteo is now tied with Jason Foreman (2000) for second place in single-season school history with 21 doubles, trailing only the record of 28 doubles set by Brian Stoecklein (2003).

Cal U also set a pair of single-game Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) record for steals on Tuesday against Charleston. In Game 2, the Vulcans had six stolen bases in the first inning to establish a new league mark for most steals in an inning. For the game, Cal U tied the single-game PSAC mark of 13 steals, a total not reached since March of 1976 by Shippensburg.

In Game 1, the Vulcans took a 5-2 lead in the bottom of the first before the Golden Eagles claimed a 6-5 lead in the top of the second on a grand slam by right fielder Andrew Armstrong. Cal U reclaimed the lead with three runs in the bottom of the frame and five runs in the third, 13-6. The Vulcans later added a run in the fourth and two runs in the fifth to finish with a 16-7 victory.

Junior first baseman Adam Links (New Hope, Pa./Central Bucks East) went 4-for-5 with one RBI and three runs, while freshman first baseman Devin Gorski (Mount Joy, Pa./Donegal) finished 2-for-3 with a double and four RBI. DiMatteo, freshman third baseman Evan King (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) and sophomore catcher Anthony Lamont (Clinton, Pa./South Side Beaver) each finished with two hits and sophomore center fielder Troy Handza (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler) totaled four RBI. Junior shortstop Casey Teagarden (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) stole a game-high three bases.

Senior reliever Ryan Lavrusky (Temple Terrace, Fla./King) earned the victory after tossing 6.0 innings of relief. He allowed only one run on seven hits with five strikeouts and two walks, while making his first relief appearance of the season. Charleston starter Wes Sherrill (1-3) was roughed up for 12 runs (all earned) on 12 hits and three walks in 2.1 innings of work.

In the nightcap, the score was tied at 6-6 before the Vulcans scored six-straight runs to take a 12-6 lead after three innings. After the Golden Eagles plated a run in the fourth, the Vulcans scored seven runs on seven hits starting with a two-run longball by DiMatteo. Charleston cut the deficit to 19-13 with six runs in the top of the sixth before Cal U added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the inning, 21-13.

DiMatteo hit for the cycle while finishing 4-for-4 with four RBI and four runs. He started with a single in the first before hustling for a leadoff triple in the third. Following the two-run homer in the third, DiMatteo completed the cycle with a two-run double in the fourth inning.

Handza went 4-for-4 with a double, three RBI, four runs and a game-high four stolen bases. Sophomore designated hitter Kyle Bowser (Stoystown, Pa./North Star) finished 3-for-5 with a triple, four RBI, three runs and two steals, while four other Vulcans posted a pair of hits.

Sophomore starter Pat Gannon (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper Saint Clair) improved to 2-1 after yielding seven runs (four earned) on 10 hits in 5.0 innings, while fanning seven. Golden Eagle Blake Reta (2-2) was saddled with the loss after being roughed up for 16 runs (13 earned) in 3.1 innings on 15 hits and three walks.

Cal U closes out the regular season with a four-game series against Lock Haven, beginning with a road doubleheader on Friday, April 23, at 1 p.m.