• Game 1 Box Score
• Game 2 Box Score

WASHINGTON, Pa. (March 16) – The California University of Pennsylvania baseball team rallied to score three runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh of Game 2 on Sunday afternoon to earn a doubleheader sweep against Lake Erie, winning 4-1 and 3-2.

With the sweep, the Vulcans improve to 8-5 this season after sweeping the four-game home series with the Storm. Cal U limited Lake Erie to only four runs in 28.0 innings over the weekend. Meanwhile, the Storm falls to 6-7 overall after opening the year by winning five of their first six games.

In Game 2, Cal U trailed 2-0 entering the bottom of the seventh after being held to only three hits. Junior second baseman Blake Henderson (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley) and senior right fielder Chuck Gasti (Carmichaels, Pa./Carmichaels) collected back-to-back singles with one out before the Storm made a pitching change. Following a strikeout, freshman catcher Joe Yourgal (Millersville, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) drew a two-out walk to load the bases before senior center fielder Ben Carson (Coal Center, Pa./California) reached on a throwing error that allowed pinch runners Danny McGrath (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) and Chris Mitko (Columbus, Ohio/Northland) to score and tie the game. With runners on the corners, senior first baseman Derrik Zeroski (Clinton, Pa./West Allegheny) beat out an infield single to shortstop after the ball had deflected off the pitcher, allowing pinch runner Andre Jones (New Castle, Pa./Union) to score the game-winning run.

The Storm took their first lead of the weekend in the top of fourth after a leadoff triple and ensuing ground-out. In the sixth, Lake Erie manufactured another run and loaded the bases with one out before junior starter GJ Senchak (New Castle, Pa./New Castle) recorded back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.

Senchak (2-1) earned the complete-game victory after yielding two runs (both earned) and scattering five hits over 7.0 innings (89 pitches). He posted six strikeouts and issued just one walk while tossing the seventh complete game of his career. Storm reliever Brandon Grunda (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing one run (unearned) in 0.1 inning of work, while starter Heath Kelley took a no-decision after yielding two runs (both unearned) on five hits in 6.1 innings (90 pitches).

In Game 1, sophomore third baseman Mick Fennell (Butler, Pa./Butler), Henderson and senior right fielder Giovanni Morales (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) each collected two hits, one RBI and one run scored.

The Vulcans jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second after batting around in the inning. With runners on second and third, Fennell scored on an RBI ground-out before Henderson scored on an RBI bunt single by Morales. Cal U then loaded the bases on a single and an error before Zeroski lined a two-out, RBI single through the right side.

In the fifth, Cal U added an insurance run on a two-out RBI single by Fennell. The Storm trimmed the deficit in the top of the sixth with a two-out, solo homer by third baseman Zack DeCamp.

Junior Justin Taylor (Julian, Pa./Bald Eagle) recorded his second complete-game victory of the season and improved to 3-1 in four starts. He allowed one run (earned) on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts in 7.0 innings (82 pitches). Lake Erie starter Russ Hogue (1-2) was saddled with the loss after yielding three runs (two earned) in 2.0-plus innings (42 pitches).

Cal U returns to the diamond on Wednesday, March 19, when it hosts a nine-inning game against Notre Dame (Ohio) at CONSOL Energy Park starting at 2 p.m.