• Game 1 Box Score
• Game 2 Box Score

MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. (Marc h 29) – In a meeting of two nationally-ranked teams, the No. 27 California University of Pennsylvania baseball team was swept in a doubleheader at No. 4 Mount Olive on Friday evening, falling 8-1 and 8-0.

With the sweep, the Vulcans fall to 16-6 this season after winning 14 of their last 16 games. Meanwhile, the Trojans extended their win streak to eight games to improve to 30-4 overall. Mount Olive has been No. 1 team in NCAA Division II four times in the previous eight weeks. The doubleheader opened with a nine-inning game followed by a seven-inning game, which varies from the traditional seven-inning games played in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC).

In Game 1, Mount Olive took a 2-0 lead in the bottom on the first on back-to-back solo homers. The Vulcans loaded the bases in the second with one out before the Trojans induced an inning-ending double play. Cal U trimmed the deficit to 2-1 in the fourth on two hits. Freshman designated hitter David Marcus (Whitby, Ontario/Father Leo J. Austin) collected a double and junior right fielder Chuck Gasti (Carmichaels, Pa./Carmichaels) later reached on an infield single to the left side. Marcus then advanced to third on a passed ball before scoring on a wild pitch. Mount Olive countered with a solo homer in the bottom of the inning, 3-1. The Trojans later sealed the victory by scoring four runs in the sixth before stretching the lead to 8-1 with one run in the eighth.

Marcus and junior third baseman Derrik Zeroski (Clinton, Pa./West Allegheny)both collected two hits, as the Vulcans finished with seven hits in the loss.

Sophomore starter GJ Senchak (New Castle, Pa./New Castle) suffered the loss after allowing six runs (all earned) on 10 hits and two walks in 5.2 innings. Trojans sophomore Alex Reagan (8-1) earned the complete-game victory, yielding one run (unearned) and striking out seven in 9.0 innings.

In Game 2, Mount Olive scored four runs in the first and added three runs in the second to take a 7-0 lead. The Trojans added a run in the fifth, as the Vulcans tied a season low with three hits and were unable to advance a runner into scoring position.

Sophomore starter Justin Taylor (Julian, Pa./Bald Eagle) was roughed up for seven runs (all earned) on seven hits and two walks in just 1.2 innings. Freshman Jack Dennis (Toronto, Ontario/Birchmount Park) scattered two hits and allowed one run (unearned) in 3.1 innings of relief, while sophomore Kyle Mann (DuBois, Pa./DuBois Central Catholic) tossed a scoreless seventh inning.

Mount Olive senior Matt Dillon earned the complete-game victory and allowed only five base runners in 7.0 innings with seven strikeouts.

Cal U continues its weekend series in North Carolina tomorrow, Saturday, March 30, when it faces Mount Olive in a nine-inning game at 12 p.m.