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

WASHINGTON, Pa. (March 25) – Benefitting from a late-inning error in Game 1, the Vulcans earned a doubleheader sweep against Salem International at CONSOL Energy Park on Tuesday afternoon, winning 5-2 in Game 1 and 3-1 in Game 2.

With the sweep, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team improves to 13-7 overall behind an 11-4 mark at home. The Vulcans have won three of four games this year with the Tigers, who are members of the first-year Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC). Meanwhile, Salem International drops to 5-19 this season while yet to play a home game.

In Game 1, the Vulcan trailed 2-1 entering the bottom of the sixth before scoring four unearned runs. Senior first baseman Derrik Zeroski (Clinton, Pa./West Allegheny) started the inning by reaching on a two-base error via a dropped fly and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. Sophomore designated hitter David Marcus (Whitby, Ontario/Father Leo J. Austin) followed with a game-tying, RBI double before Cal U later collected three-straight, two-out singles. Sophomore third baseman Mick Fennell (Butler, Pa./Butler) lined an RBI single up the middle and later scored from first on an RBI single by right fielder Chuck Gasti (Carmichaels, Pa./Carmichaels). Following a balk and an infield single by senior second baseman Giovanni Morales (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep), the Vulcans scored their last run of the inning on a wild pitch.

Sophomore Cory Craig (Youngsville, Pa./Youngsville) tossed the first complete game of his career, yielding two runs (both earned) and scattering seven hits over 7.0 innings (111 pitches). He issued no walks and established a career high with six strikeouts on Tuesday. SIU starter Anthony Bariso (1-2) suffered the loss after allowing five runs (one earned) on seven hits in 5.2 innings (81 pitches).

After the Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the second, the Vulcans answered with a run in the bottom of the third. Morales led off with a bunt single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt before scoring on an RBI double by senior center fielder Ben Carson (Coal Center, Pa./California). SIU broke the tie in the top of the sixth on a bloop RBI single before Cal U sealed the victory with four runs in the bottom of the inning.

Batting back-to-back in the lineup, Fennell and Gasti each finished 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored. Morales added a pair of hits and scored once in the victory.

In Game 2, junior Luke Burton (Ambridge, Pa./Ambridge) earned the win while making his first start of the year. He allowed one run (earned) on five hits while posting four strikeouts in 6.0 innings (90 pitches). Redshirt freshman Alex Ziegler (Butler, Pa./Butler) retired the Tigers in order in the top of the seventh to record his second save of the season. SIU starter Tyler Beck (0-6) was saddled with the loss after yielding three runs (all earned) on eight hits in 6.0 innings (83 pitches).

The Vulcans took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first after collecting three-straight hits, including an RBI double by junior shortstop Matt Peters (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby), who scored on a sacrifice fly. SIU trimmed the deficit to 2-1 with three-straight, two-out hits in the fourth before Cal U countered with a run in the bottom of the fifth. Junior catcher Will Kaufman (Roanoke, Va./Patrick Henry) opened the inning with a triple and later scored on a two-out triple by Peters.

Peters finished 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI and one run scored, while Marcus added two hits from the cleanup spot. Carson posted a hit in each game to extend his hitting streak to eight games.

The Vulcans return to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play this weekend with a four-game series against Slippery Rock, beginning with a home doubleheader on Saturday, March 28, with Game 1 set to start at 1 p.m.