• Box Score

WASHINGTON, Pa. (Feb. 20) – Senior pitcher Jim Kirker (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette) tossed 5.0 innings of one-hit relief and junior designated hitter Kyle Petty (Stewartsville, N.J./Phillipsburg) was one of three players with a pair of RBI on Monday afternoon, as the Vulcans earned a 9-1 victory against Penn State-Greater Allegheny at CONSOL Energy Park.

With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team improves to 4-1 this season. The Vulcans have now played three home games at CONSOL Energy Park in the last three days, posting a 3-0 mark. Meanwhile, the Lions fall to 0-1 after dropping their season-opener.

Kirker earned his first win of the season after yielding just one hit and registering five strikeouts in 5.0 innings (57 pitches), marking his longest outing since April 2010. Freshman GJ Senchak (New Castle, Pa./New Castle) and senior Ryan Hulme (Aliquippa, Pa./Center) each tossed an inning of scoreless relief to close out the victory. Senior Eric Francis (New Castle, Pa./Shenango) made his third career start on Monday and allowed one run (unearned) before leaving after 2.0 innings due to an injury.

Penn State-Greater Allegheny scored its only run of the game in the top of the first on a throwing error after a steal of third base. Cal U responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 2-1 lead. With runners on the corners, the Vulcans tied the game at 1-1 when senior center fielder Troy Handza (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler) scored on a double play. Petty followed with a triple to the right-center field wall and scored on a two-out RBI single by sophomore left fielder Ben Carson (Coal Center, Pa./California).

The Vulcans added to their lead in the third with three runs on two hits and two errors. Sophomore third baseman Chuck Gasti (Carmichaels, Pa./Carmichaels) started the rally with a single and junior first baseman AJ Robinson (Milesburg, Pa./Bald Eagle) reached on a dropped fly. Petty delivered a RBI single through the middle before Robinson scored on a fielding error. After a double steal, Cal U registered its final run of the inning on a sacrifice fly by freshman shortstop Matt Peters (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby).

In the sixth, sophomore Joey Borrelli (New Castle, Pa./Neshannock) delivered a RBI double that scored Peters from second. Senior catcher JB Sapienza (La Plata, Md./La Plata) followed with a RBI single to increase the lead to 7-1. The Vulcans then added a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh behind a RBI single from Petty and RBI ground-out from Peters.

Petty led the offensive effort on Monday, going 3-for-4 with one triple, two RBI, two runs and one steal. Carson and Peters each registered a pair of RBI, while Gasti collected two singles and scored twice in the win.

Lions' starter Jonathan Lutz (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing two runs (both earned) on three hits in 2.0 innings of work. Penn State-Greater Allegheny used five pitchers in the game and issued only one walk in nine innings.

The Vulcans return to the diamond with a three-game series at Charleston (W.Va.) on Feb. 25-26.