• Game 1 Box Score
• Game 2 Box Score

WASHINGTON, Pa. (March 13) – Battling near white-out conditions on multiple occasions, the Vulcans posted a doubleheader sweep against Salem International on Wednesday afternoon at CONSOL Energy Park, winning 2-0 and 13-5.

With the victories, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team improves to 9-2 this season and extends its win streak to six games. Meanwhile, Salem International falls to 2-14 overall. The doubleheader started over 90 minutes late due to intense snowfall during pregame warm-ups. Snowfall returned in the second game and forced a 30-plus minute delay in the fourth inning before forcing the game to be called prior to the start of the seventh.

In Game 1, sophomore Justin Taylor (Julian, Pa./Bald Eagle) tossed a two-hit, complete-game shutout against the Tigers to improve 3-0 this season. He allowed just one base runner to reach scoring position on Wednesday and registered a season-high six strikeouts in 7.0 innings (99 pitches). Taylor leads the team this season with three victories, including two complete games, and has posted a 1.00 ERA in 18.0 innings of work.

The Vulcans advanced a runner to second in both the third and fourth innings before breaking a scoreless tie with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Freshman left fielder Mick Fennell (Butler, Pa./Butler) started the inning with an infield single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Junior second baseman Giovanni Morales (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) then reached on a bunt single and Fennell moved to third before Morales advanced to second on the play while the Tigers pitcher was walking back to the mound. Junior center fielder Ben Carson (Coal Center, Pa./California) and junior third baseman Derrik Zeroski (Clinton, Pa./West Allegheny) followed with back-to-back RBI singles, 2-0.

SIU mounted its biggest threat of the game in the sixth, as it had a runner on third with two outs. Taylor then induced a ground-out to end the inning and retired the Tigers in order in the seventh to finish with the second complete-game shutout of his career.

Morales registered his fifth multi-game of the year, finishing 2-for-2 with one run scored and one stolen base.

Tigers' starter Elliot Swiatly (1-1) suffered the loss after allowing two runs (both earned) on six hits in 4.1 innings (61 pitches).

In Game 2, freshman Jack Dennis (Toronto, Ontario/Birchmount Park) earned his first career win after allowing four runs (all earned) on five hits in 4.0 innings (71 pitches). He made the first start of his career and registered four strikeouts with no walks. Following the snow delay, redshirt senior Eric Francis (New Castle, Pa./Shenango) yielded one run (earned) on two hits and posted four strikeouts in 2.0 innings of relief.

The Vulcans scored multiple runs in the first three innings to take a 7-0 lead. In the first, senior catcher Kyle Petty (Stewartsville, N.J./Phillipsburg) lined an RBI double to left-center field and advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt before scoring on a ground-out.  Cal U then scored three runs on just two hits in the bottom of the second, 5-0. Junior Zak Schmidt (Moon Twp., Pa./Moon) collected an RBI single and advanced to third on a stolen base and throwing error on the same play that allowed Morales to score on a wild pitch. Carson then reached on a walk before Schmidt scored on a sacrifice fly by Petty. In the third, the Vulcans took advantage of two errors by scoring two runs on just two hits. Freshman designated hitter David Marcus (Whitby, Ontario/Father Leo J. Austin) opened the inning with a double and scored on an error that allowed sophomore shortstop Matt Peters (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) to move into scoring position after reaching on an infield single. Peters moved to third on another error before scoring on a sacrifice fly.

Dennis retired the first nine batters in order before the Tigers scored four runs on five hits in the fourth. Carson reached in the bottom of the inning before the game was delayed due to snow. Following a scoreless fifth, SIU center fielder Jayson Barnes posted an inside-the-park home run to center field before Cal U responded with six runs in the bottom of the inning after the first six batters reached safely. With the bases loaded, senior first baseman AJ Robinson (Milesburg, Pa./Bald Eagle) drew a walk before Marcus lined a two-run single through the right side. Peters followed with an RBI single before Gasti later added a two-run single to increase the lead to 13-5.

The Vulcans took the field in the top of the seventh before the umpires called the game prior to the first batter of the inning due to snow.

Marcus paced the offensive effort, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Gasti went 2-for-2 with three RBI and one run scored, while Schmidt, Carson, Petty and Peters all collected two hits and scored twice. Robinson also extended his team-best hitting streak to six games.

SIU starter Chance Sharp (1-5) was saddled with the loss after being roughed up for five runs (four earned) on five hits in just 1.2 innings.

The Vulcans return to CONSOL Energy Park tomorrow, Thursday, March 14, when they host a doubleheader against Glenville State at 1 p.m.