• Game 1 Box Score
• Game 2 Box Score

BELMONT, N.C. (Feb. 19) – The No. 21 Vulcans split their doubleheader on Saturday against Belmont Abbey (N.C.), winning Game 1, 18-5, before suffering a 7-3 loss in the nightcap.

With the split, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team moves to 3-2 this season. Meanwhile, Belmont Abbey now stands at 10-4 overall this year.

In the victory, the Vulcans tallied 18 runs on 18 hits, including seven doubles, and seven walks. Senior shortstop Casey Teagarden (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) went 4-for-6 with three RBI and two runs, while classmate Sean Welsh (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East) collected three hits, four RBI and three runs. Sophomore second baseman Evan King (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg), senior first baseman Adam Links (New Hope, Pa./Central Bucks East) and senior third baseman Aaron Ordy (Butler, Pa./Butler) each finished with two hits and scored at least twice while Links and Ordy both registered two RBI.

Junior Randy Sturgill (Leechburg, Pa./Leechburg) improved to 2-0 this season after yielding three runs (two earned) and five hits over 7.0 innings with eight strikeouts. After allowing two runs in the first, the 6-1 left-hander then retired 12-straight batters. Sophomore Tyler Zimm (Fayetteville, W.Va./Oak Hill) worked the eighth, allowing two unearned runs, before the game was called due to a run-rule.

Both teams scored two runs in the first before Cal U took the lead with an unearned run in the fourth, 3-2. The Vulcans then batted around in the fifth, scoring five runs on six hits, to expand their lead to 8-2. Welsh, sophomore catcher Kyle Petty (Stewartsville, N.J./Phillipsburg) and freshman designated hitter Ben Carson (Coal Center, Pa./California) all collected RBI singles before Ordy capped the inning with a two-out, two-run single.

The Vulcans then exploded for 10 runs in the top of the seventh, sending 13 batters to the plate. Faust, Welsh, and Teagarden all collected two-run doubles in the inning, while Links tallied an RBI in both plate appearances in the inning (single, walk).

Crusaders' starter Matt Parish suffered the loss after being roughed up for seven runs (five earned) on six hits and four walks in 4.1 innings.

In Game 2, Cal U lead 4-3 before Belmont Abbey scored three runs in both the fifth and sixth inning to claim a 7-3 victory. The Vulcans were limited to only six hits in the nightcap after entering the game with 63 hits in four games.

The Vulcans scored the first run of the game in the second on an error before taking a 2-0 lead in the third when Links collected an RBI double. The Crusaders answered in the bottom of the third with a solo homer by third baseman Chris Vazquez. Cal U added to its lead in the top of the fifth with an RBI single by Welsh before Belmont Abbey took a 4-3 later in the bottom of the inning. The Crusaders then added to their lead with three runs in the sixth on three singles.

Ordy was the lone Vulcan to collect a multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-4 with one run.

Sophomore Kyle Thomas (Munhall, Pa./Steel Valley) suffered the loss in his first start at Cal U after allowing four runs on four hits and three walks in 4.1 innings. Belmont-Abbey starter Steven Thiele earned the complete-game victory after yielding three runs (two earned) on six hits and four walks.

The Vulcans are schedule to return to the diamond tomorrow, Sunday, Feb. 20, when they play a nine-inning game against Belmont Abbey. Live stats of the game will be available by clicking here.