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

WASHINGTON, Pa. (April 7) – Freshman Justin Taylor (Julian, Pa./Bald Eagle) tossed his first career complete game on Saturday afternoon at CONSOL Energy Park, as the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team completed a season sweep of Clarion, wining 3-2 and 7-2 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action.

With the sweep, the Vulcans improve to 21-13 overall and claim sole possession of first place in the league standings with a 9-3 mark. Cal U has now won nine of its last 10 games with four doubleheader sweeps. Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles fall to 7-21 this season with a 5-11 record in divisional play.

In Game 1, Taylor earned the complete-game win after yielding two runs (one earned) on seven hits. He registered a career-high eight strikeouts and issued just one walk in 7.0 innings (106 pitches). Clarion starter Brett Whitman (0-2) suffered the loss after allowing three runs (all earned) on three hits and two walks in 6.0 innings (65 pitches).

The Golden Eagles took a 2-0 lead in the first on three hits and one error before the Vulcans tied the game in the second, 2-2. Senior center fielder Troy Handza (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler) opened the inning with a triple to left-center field before scoring on a ground-out. Sophomore left fielder Ben Carson (Coal Center, Pa./California) later singled and senior catcher JB Sapienza (La Plata, Md./La Plata) drew a four-pitch walk. Cal U then executed a double steal with Carson scoring on the play due to a wild pitch.

In the fourth, the Vulcans took a 3-2 lead when Handza opened the inning with a homer over the left-field fence. He is now tied with Chris McManus (1996-99) for fourth place in school history with 21 career homers. After allowing a two-out single in the fifth, Taylor retired the final seven batters in order to post his first career complete game.

Handza finished with two of team's three hits and also scored twice.

In the nightcap, Cal U took a 4-0 lead in the third after scoring four runs on three singles, one walk and one hit by pitch. Freshman shortstop Matt Peters (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) opened the inning with a single before scoring from second on an RBI single by senior second baseman Kyle Bowser (Stoystown, Pa./North Star). Later in the inning, sophomore right fielder John Orr (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler) lined a two-run single with two outs. Carson and Orr then executed a delayed double-steal attempt that allowed Carson to score from third.

The Golden Eagles countered with two runs in the top of the fourth, 4-2, before the Vulcans added three insurance runs in the sixth to stretch their lead to 7-2. Peters led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Handza then reached on a two-base error that allowed Peters to move to third before Bowser lined a two-run single to center field. Carson later delivered a two-out RBI single, 7-2.

Freshman GJ Senchak (New Castle, Pa./New Castle) won his fourth-straight start on Saturday, allowing two runs (both earned) on five hits in 5.0 innings (64 pitches). Senior Jim Kirker (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette) tossed 2.0 innings of one-hit relief on Saturday with four strikeouts to post his second save of the season (sixth career). Golden Eagles' T.J. Anderson was saddled with the loss after surrendering seven runs (five earned) on eight hits and six walks in 6.0 innings (116 pitches).

Bowser collected his 11th multi-hit game of the season, finishing 2-for-4 with three RBI, two runs and two stolen bases. Peters posted a pair of hits and scored twice, while Carson also added two hits.

Cal U returns to action next weekend with a four-game series against Lock Haven, beginning on Friday, April 13, with a doubleheader at CONSOL Energy Park, starting at 1 p.m. Live stats of the games will be available by clicking here.