• Game 1 Box Score
• Game 2 Box Score

INDIANA, Pa. (May 3) – The Vulcans remain tied for first place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West standings following a doubleheader split at IUP on Friday afternoon, winning 5-1 before falling 12-10 in walk-off fashion.

With the split, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team moves to 32-15 overall. The Vulcans enter the final day of the regular season tied for first place with a 14-8 mark in divisional action. Meanwhile, IUP stands at 26-22 this season behind a 12-10 record in league play.

In Game 1, freshman Jack Dennis (Toronto, Ontario/Birchmount Park) earned the victory after yielding one run (earned) on three hits and six walks in 5.0-plus innings. Senior Kyle Petty (Stewartsville, N.J./Phillipsburg) registered his fourth save of the year after working 2.0 scoreless innings of relief. IUP senior Stephen Cook (8-2) suffered the loss after allowing a season-high five runs (four earned) on eight hits in 7.0 innings.

In the top of second, the Vulcans took a 1-0 lead when freshman left fielder Mick Fennell (Butler, Pa./Butler) scored from second on an RBI single by sophomore catcher Will Kaufman (Roanoke, Va./Patrick Henry). Cal U added to the lead in the third when Fennell belted a two-run triple to left-center field, 3-0.

In the sixth, Cal U manufactured one run on just one single when Fennell, who was hit by pitch, scored on a sacrifice fly by junior second baseman Giovanni Morales (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep). The Crimson Hawks loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning before Petty induced a double play that allowed a run to score. However, Petty then forced a fly-out to end the threat and preserve the lead. The Vulcans added an insurance run in the seventh when Petty scored from third on an error.

Fennell paced the offensive effort, going 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored. Kaufman and Petty each added a pair of hits in the victory.

In Game 2, the Vulcans led 10-4 entering the fifth before Crimson Hawks scored five runs in the bottom of the inning before hitting a three-run, walk-off homer with two outs in the seventh. Petty (1-2) suffered the loss after allowing two runs (both earned) in 0.1 inning of relief. Sophomore Justin Taylor (Julian, Pa./Bald Eagle) took a no-decision after being roughed up for seven runs (all earned) on eight hits in 4.1 innings. IUP junior Demetrius Christofes (2-0) earn the win after tossing 2.0 innings of scoreless relief.

The Crimson Hawks belted a solo homer to open the first before scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the third, 3-0. Cal U answered with four runs in the fourth to take a 4-3 lead. Junior third baseman Derrik Zeroski (Clinton, Pa./West Allegheny) and junior center fielder Ben Carson (Coal Center, Pa./California) opened the inning with back-to-back singles before senior designated hitter AJ Robinson (Milesburg, Pa./Bald Eagle) lined an RBI single. Fennell later posted a two-run triple and Kaufman added a two-out RBI single.

IUP tied the game with a solo homer in the fourth before Cal U totaled six runs in the top of the fifth, 10-4. The Vulcans opened the inning with a leadoff single before Fennell registered an RBI triple and later scored on an RBI single by Kaufman. Cal U later loaded the bases before Zeroski posted a three-run triple and Carson added an RBI single. In the bottom of the inning, the Crimson Hawks cut the deficit to 10-9 behind a two-run double and three-run homer by third baseman Austin Mock.

The Vulcans looked to add to their lead in the seventh with two runners on base before a double play and another ground-out ended the threat. IUP also had two runners on in the bottom of the inning before Mock posted a walk-off, three-run homer.

Zeroski anchored the offensive effort, going 4-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored from the leadoff spot. Kaufman finished 3-for-4 with two RBI and one run and Fennell went 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs. Carson and sophomore shortstop Matt Peters (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) both added a pair of hits in the loss.

Cal U concludes the regular season tomorrow, Saturday, May 4, when its hosts IUP for a Senior Day doubleheader at CONSOL Energy Park, starting at 1 p.m.