Stephen Bates, WCS Photography

Baseball Matthew Kifer, Sports Information Director

No. 28 Vulcans battle to split with NDC

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
Photo Gallery


WASHINGTON, Pa. (April 9) – Behind a 12th-inning, walk-off single by senior right fielder Chuck Gasti (Carmichaels, Pa./Carmichaels), the No. 28 California University of Pennsylvania baseball team took a doubleheader split against Notre Dame (Ohio) on Tuesday afternoon at CONSOL Energy Park, winning 3-2 before falling 1-0.

With the split, the Vulcans move to 22-8 overall after playing seven games over the last five days. In Game 1, Cal U played its longest game since the 2010 campaign when it went 14 innings at Armstrong Atlantic (Ga.). Meanwhile, the Falcons are now 11-20 this season while competing as an independent.

In Game 1, Gasti delivered a two-run, walk-off single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 12th inning. After NDC took the lead in the top of the inning, sophomore shortstop Matt Peters (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) reached on a fielder's choice and stole second. Sophomore pitcher Kyle Mann (DuBois, Pa./DuBois Central Catholic) was then hit by a pitch with two outs and sophomore first baseman Justin Taylor (Julian, Pa./Bald Eagle) worked a six-pitch walk to load the bases. Gasti then delivered the game-winning single to shallow center field that allowed both the game-tying and game-winning runs to score.

Mann (2-0) earned the win in relief for the second-straight day after allowing one unearned run on two hits in the 12th. Freshman starter Cory Craig (Youngsville, Pa./Youngsville) took a no-decision despite yielding one run (earned) on four hits in 7.2 innings (94 pitches), while redshirt senior Eric Francis (New Castle, Pa./Shenango) tossed 3.1 innings of two-hit, scoreless relief (36 pitches). NDC senior Kevin Bedhun (1-2) was saddled with the loss after surrendering two runs (both earned) on two hits and four walks in 4.2 innings of relief (84 pitches).

The Falcons manufactured a run in the top of the first before the Vulcans tied the game in the third, 1-1. Junior center fielder Zak Schmidt (Moon Twp., Pa./Moon) opened the inning with a double and was tagged out on a bunt attempt that allowed junior second baseman Derrik Zeroski (Clinton, Pa./West Allegheny) to reach on a fielder's choice. Zeroski then moved to third on a wild pitch and stolen base before scoring on an RBI double by Peters.

In the bottom of the seventh, Cal U threatened to break the tie after collecting back-to-back singles before two ground-outs forced the game into extra innings. The Vulcans again managed two runners in the eighth before an infield fly and ground-out extended the game. Both teams were retired in order in the ninth and 10th before Cal U had runners on the corners in the 11th with two outs before a ground-out kept the game tied. In the 12th, the Falcons had runners on the corners following a double and throwing error before taking a 2-1 lead on a sacrifice fly.

Gasti and Schmidt both collected two hits in the victory, as the Vulcans used a combined 18 different players in the lineup.

In Game 2, the Falcons scored the only run of the game after starting the inning with three-straight singles. Cal U left runners in scoring position in each of the first five innings, finishing the game with nine runners left on base. The Vulcans had runners on second and third in the fifth with two outs before back-to-back hitters were able to hit the ball out of the infield.

Sophomore starter Luke Burton (Ambridge, Pa./Ambridge) suffered the loss after yielding one run (earned) on five hits and four walks in 5.0-plus innings. Mann and senior Kyle Petty (Stewartsville, N.J./Phillipsburg) then each worked 1.0 scoreless innings of relief in the nightcap. Falcons senior Tyler DeCrapio (2-3) earned the complete-game shutout, scattering five hits and two walks in 7.0 innings (99 pitches).

Junior right fielder John Orr (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler) and Petty both went 2-for-3, combining for four of the team's five hits. Petty was held hitless in six at-bats during Game 1, snapping a career-best 12-game hitting streak.

The Vulcans return to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play with a four-game series this weekend against Lock Haven, beginning with a road doubleheader on Friday, April 12 at 1 p.m.

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