• Game 1 Box Score
• Game 2 Box Score
• Photo Gallery

WASHINGTON, Pa. (March 1) – The Vulcans took a split of their home-opening doubleheader with No. 17 Shippensburg at CONSOL Energy Park on Saturday afternoon, winning 3-2 in Game 1 before falling 3-1 in Game 2.

With the split, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team moves to 2-3 this year with all five games coming against nationally-ranked programs. The Vulcans opened the season last weekend in North Carolina with three games against Mount Olive.

In Game 1, junior Justin Taylor (Julian, Pa./Bald Eagle) tossed a 9.0-inning, complete game (116 pitches) while making his second start of the year. He allowed two runs (both earned) while scattering six hits and two walks on Saturday. Taylor recorded four strikeouts en route to improving his record to 1-1 this season.

The Vulcans took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first before leaving the bases loaded. Senior center fielder Ben Carson (Coal Center, Pa./California) started the rally by reaching on a fielding error and junior shortstop Matt Peters (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) followed with an infield single. Sophomore designated hitter David Marcus (Whitby, Ontario/Father Leo J. Austin) then delivered a two-run single before Cal U later loaded the bases on a single and walk before a strikeout ended the inning.

Cal U looked to add to the lead in the second with runners on first and second before a double play ended the inning. The Raiders trimmed the deficit to 2-1 in the top of the fifth when a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt allowed first baseman Cody Ezolt, who reached on a leadoff double, to score. Shippensburg evened the score the following inning on a sacrifice fly after the Raiders led off the inning with back-to-back singles.

In the bottom of the seventh, senior second baseman Giovanni Morales (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) opened the inning with a single and advanced to third on a wild pitch and sacrifice bunt. Carson then delivered the go-ahead, RBI single to right-center field. The Vulcans looked to add to the lead in the eighth with a runner on second and one out before a strikeout and pop-up ended the inning.

The Raiders started the ninth with a double to right-center field before a sharp grounder fielded by third baseman Mick Fennell (Butler, Pa./Butler) prevented the runner from advancing. Taylor then induced a flyout to center field and ground-out to shortstop to earn the complete-game victory.

Carson finished 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored, while Marcus finished with a pair of RBI.

Shippensburg starter Pat Kregeloh (0-1), who was an All-America selection as a utility and infielder last year, suffered the loss after allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits and four walks in 7.0 innings (110 pitches).

In Game 2, the Raiders scored all three of their runs in the top of the third inning. Shippensburg had runners in scoring position in both the first and second before breaking through with four-straight, two-out hits off junior GJ Senchak (New Castle, Pa./New Castle).

The Vulcans looked to take the lead in the bottom of the second, as senior first baseman Derrik Zeroski (Clinton, Pa./West Allegheny) reached on a one-out single and stole second. Freshman catcher Joe Yourgal (Millersville, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) followed with a single to left field and Zeroski was thrown out home, while Yourgal was tagged out attempting to go to second on the play. In the bottom of the fourth, Peters led off with a double and advanced to third on a ground-out before Shippensburg starter Marcus Shippey posted a strikeout and induced a foul-out.

The Raiders appeared poised to add to their lead in the fifth with runners on the corners and two outs before sophomore Cory Craig (Youngsville, Pa./Youngsville) entered on the game and forced a pop-out to end the inning. Cal U broke through against Shippey in the sixth, scoring one run on three singles. Fennell started the inning with an infield single and advanced to third on a single by Peters. Marcus followed with an RBI single before a double play ended the inning, the third inning-ending double play of the day for the Vulcans.

Senchak (1-1) was saddled with the loss after allowing three runs (all earned) on nine hits in 4.2 innings (68 pitches), while Craig tossed 2.1 innings of one-hit scoreless relief. Shippey (1-0) scattered seven hits and one run (earned) in 6.0 innings to earn the win and Austin Bartley worked a scoreless bottom of the seventh to record his second save of the year.

Peters finished 3-for-3 in the loss, while Zeroski collected a pair of hits.

Cal U is idle for a week before returning to the diamond on Saturday, March 8, with a doubleheader against West Chester at Point Stadium in Johnstown, Pa. The twinbill is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.

Note: Cal U and Shippensburg were previously scheduled for a nine-inning game tomorrow, Sunday, March 2, at CONSOL Energy Park. However, due to the weather forecast the game was cancelled.