• Game 1 Box Score
• Game 2 Box Score

WASHINGTON, Pa. (March 5) – Behind a four-run sixth inning in the nightcap, the Vulcans claimed a doubleheader split against Fairmont State at CONSOL Energy Park on Tuesday afternoon, falling 2-0 before posting a 5-1 victory.

With the split, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team moves to 4-2 overall. Meanwhile, Fairmont State now stands at 1-4 this season.

In Game 2, sophomore Justin Taylor (Julian, Pa./Bald Eagle) tossed the fourth complete game of his career. He yielded one run (earned) on eight hits and registered eight strikeouts with no walks in 7.0 innings (89 pitches). Taylor allowed the Fighting Falcons to advance runners in scoring position in only two innings and forced a pair of inning-ending double plays.

After two scoreless innings, Fairmont State took a 1-0 lead in the third before the inning ended when senior first baseman AJ Robinson (Milesburg, Pa./Bald Eagle) cut a throw home from junior center fielder Ben Carson (Coal Center, Pa./California) to get a runner out attempting to go from first to third on an RBI single. Ca U had runners in scoring position in the bottom of the inning before a ground-out to the pitcher ended the threat.

In the fourth, the Vulcans collected their first hit of the game and tied the score at 1-1. Senior catcher Kyle Petty (Stewartsville, N.J./Phillipsburg) reached on a hit by pitch to start the inning. Robinson followed with a single to left-center field and a fielding error on the play allowed Petty to score from first.

Cal U broke the tie by scoring four runs in the sixth, highlighted by five-straight batters reaching base safely with two outs. Junior third baseman Derrik Zeroski (Clinton, Pa./West Allegheny) opened the inning with a double and advanced to third on a ground-out before scoring on an RBI single by Robinson through a draw-in infield. Freshman designated hitter David Marcus (Whitby, Ontario/Father Leo J. Austin) later belted a ground-rule double to right-center field with two outs. After a pitching change, junior pinch hitter Chuck Gasti (Carmichaels, Pa./Carmichaels) reached on a hit by pitch before Robinson scored on a wild pitch. Following a walk, junior second baseman Giovanni Morales (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) executed a squeeze bunt to stretch the lead to 4-1. The Vulcans then added an insurance run when Carson drew a bases-loaded walk to score Gasti, 5-1.

In the top of the seventh, Taylor retired the first two batters before Fairmont State loaded the bases with three-straight hits. He then induced a ground-out to Morales to end the game.

Robinson collected two of the team's five hits, going 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored. Carson finished with two walks and one RBI in the win.

Fairmont State reliever Corey Lilly (0-1) was saddled with the loss after allowing three runs on three hits in just 0.2 inning, while starter John Fox took a no-decision after yielding one run (unearned) on just one hit in 5.0 innings of work.

In Game 1, sophomore GJ Senchak (New Castle, Pa/New Castle) suffered the loss despite yielding two runs (both earned) in his first complete game of the season. He allowed seven hits and issued two walks while registering six strikeouts in 7.0 innings (91 pitches). After two starts this year, Senchak leads the team with a 1.50 ERA and nine strikeouts in 12.0 innings.

Senchak retired the side in order in the first before the Fighting Falcons took a 2-0 lead in the second after the first three batters reached on hits to right field. The Vulcans collected their first hit in the fourth and had a pair of runners reach base with two outs before ending the inning with a fielder's choice. In the bottom of the seventh, Cal U featured runners on the corners before a fielder's choice to second base ended the game.

The Vulcans were limited to just four hits in the loss with Peters finishing 2-for-3.

Fighting Falcons starter Jamie Allard (1-0) earned the win after scattering three hits over 6.0 scoreless innings and junior Nick Mayle registered the save after tossing a scoreless seventh inning.

Cal U is scheduled to return to the diamond on Friday, March 8, with a non-conference doubleheader against Clarion at CONSOL Energy Park, starting at 12 p.m.