• Game 1 Box Score
• Game 2 Box Score
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BUTLER, Pa. (April 18) – Sophomore Kyle Thomas (Munhall, Pa./Steel Valley) tossed a four-hit, complete-game shutout on Monday afternoon, as the Vulcans split a doubleheader against Clarion in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action at Pullman Park, winning 8-0 before losing 5-1 in the nightcap.

With the split, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team moves to 21-14 overall with a 7-8 mark in league play. The Vulcans are currently in third place in the divisional standings with two weeks left in the regular season. Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles are now 8-21 this season with a 6-8 record in league action.

Thomas improved to 3-3 this year after posting his third shutout in less than three weeks. He scattered four hits and issued no walks while needing only 70 pitches to earn the victory over Clarion. In four conference starts, Thomas boasts a 3-1 mark, 20 strikeouts and incredible 0.69 ERA in 26.0 innings.

In Game 1, the Vulcans took a 1-0 lead in the fourth when senior first baseman Adam Links (New Hope, Pa./Central Bucks East) collected a RBI single. Cal U expanded its lead in the fifth by scoring four runs on four hits, 5-0. With runners on second and third, senior catcher Eric Berringer (Damascus, Md./Damascus) registered an RBI on a sacrifice fly. Sophomore second baseman Evan King (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) followed with an RBI single and senior third baseman Aaron Ordy (Butler, Pa./Butler) posted a RBI double. After Ordy stole third and Links reached base on a walk, the Vulcans scored their final run of the inning by executing a double steal.

Cal U added three runs in the sixth after posting four-straight singles, 8-0. With a runner on second, junior designated hitter Kyle Bowser (Stoystown, Pa./North Star) increased the lead to 6-0 with a RBI single before King later added a two-run single.

King paced the offensive effort by going 2-for-4 with three RBI and one run, while senior right fielder Chuck Faust (Hershey, Pa./Hershey) and Bowser each finished with two hits.

Clarion starter Mark White (0-3) suffered the loss after allowing seven runs (six earned) on nine hits and two walks in 5.1 innings (89 pitches).

In the nightcap, sophomore Kyle Petty (Stewartsville, N.J./Phillipsburg) dropped to 3-2 this year after yielding four runs (all earned) on five hits in 0.1 inning of relief work. Senior starter Sean Welsh (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East) took a no-decision after yielding one run (earned) on three hits and three walks in 5.0 innings (88 pitches).

The Vulcans took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Bowser tallied a two-out RBI single that scored Ordy, who reached base on a walk. Clarion tied the game in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single before Welsh forced the Golden Eagles to leave runners on the corners. Welsh then allowed only three base runners (one scoring position) over the next four innings.

In the fifth, Petty struck out the first batter he faced before the next five batters reached base safely. Clarion broke the 1-1 tie with a two-run single by left fielder Dan Dobson before pinch hitter Matt Rossi collected an RBI single. The Golden Eagles posted the final run of the inning on a sacrifice fly after junior relief pitcher Ryan Hulme (Aliquippa, Pa./Center) entered the game.

King tallied two of the five hits by the Vulcans and now leads the team with 13 multi-hit games this season.

Golden Eagles' Scott Berkes (3-1) earned the complete-game victory after allowing one run (earned) on five hits in 7.0 innings (92 pitches).

Cal U returns to action this weekend with a four-game series against Gannon, starting with a doubleheader on Friday, April 22, in Erie, Pa. Live stats of the games will be available by clicking here.