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


CLARION, Pa. (April 6) – With one of their top offensive performances in recent years, the Vulcans combined to score a staggering 36 runs in a doubleheader sweep at Clarion on Friday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play, winning 23-9 and 13-3.

With the sweep, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team improves to 19-13 overall with a 7-3 mark in divisional action. Meanwhile, Clarion falls to 7-19 this season behind a 5-8 record in league play.

In Game 1, the Vulcans tallied their most runs in a game since a 25-2 victory at Gannon in April 2003. The win also marked the first 20-run game for Cal U since a 21-13 win over Charleston (W.Va.) during the 2010 season. The Vulcans collected a season-high 22 hits in the victory over the Golden Eagles with seven players posting multi-hit games, including five with three hits. Cal U also had six different players register multi-RBI games with four players collecting four RBI in the win.

Senior center fielder Troy Handza (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler) finished 3-for-4 with three triples, four RBI and three runs scored. His three triples were just one shy of tying the NCAA Division II single-game record set during the 1971 season. Sophomore left fielder Ben Carson (Coal Center, Pa./California) went 3-for-3 with four RBI, one run and one steal and senior catcher JB Sapienza (La Plata, Md./La Plata) was 3-for-5 with one double, two RBI and one run scored.

Senior second baseman Kyle Bowser (Stoystown, Pa./North Star) collected three hits, including two doubles, posted four RBI and scored twice, while junior first baseman AJ Robinson (Milesburg, Pa./Bald Eagle) notched three hits, drove in three runs and scored three times. Sophomore third baseman Chuck Gasti (Carmichaels, Pa./Carmichaels) and freshman shortstop Matt Peters (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) combined to score seven runs and right fielder John Orr (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler) registered a rare inside-the-park grand slam in the third inning.

Junior Kyle Petty (Stewartsville, N.J./Phillipsburg), who posted two hits and scored twice, earned the win after tossing 6.0 innings on Friday. He allowed seven runs (all earned) on 13 hits and registered five strikeouts to improve to 6-1 this season. Clarion's starter Brandon Slater (1-4) was roughed up for 11 runs (10 earned) on seven hits and five walks in just 2.2 innings.

In Game 2, Cal U continued its dominant offensive display and benefited from six errors, scoring 13 runs on 17 hits. Peters established career highs in several offensive categories, going 5-for-5 with a double, a three-run homer, four RBI and two runs scored. He is the first Cal U player to collect five hits in a game since Handza during the 2010 season.

Gasti went 3-for-5 with a solo homer and four runs scored in the nightcap. Since moving to the leadoff spot, the Carmichaels native is hitting .435 with 12 runs scored In his last six games. Sapienza collected a pair of hits with two RBI and Bowser finished 2-for-5 with two runs scored. Playing right field in the nightcap, Petty posted two hits with one RBI and one run.

Junior Kyle Thomas (Munhall, Pa./Steel Valley) tossed his fourth complete of the season, limiting the Golden Eagles to three runs (one earned) on nine hits and two walks in 7.0 innings. Clarion starter Mike Dunn (3-2) suffered the loss after allowing nine runs (three earned) on 11 hits in 5.0-plus innings.

The Vulcans continue the series with the Golden Eagles tomorrow, Saturday, April 7, with a doubleheader at CONSOL Energy Park, starting at 1 p.m. Live stats of the games will be available by clicking here.