• Game 1 Box Score
• Game 2 Box Score

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (April 16) – Sophomore Jack Dennis (Toronto, Ontario/Birchmount Park) tossed a no-hitter in Game 1 on Wednesday afternoon, as the Vulcans posted a doubleheader split against Pitt-Johnstown at Point Stadium in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play, winning 2-0 before losing 4-3 in extra innings.

With the split, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team moves to 21-16 overall and 9-11 in league play. The Vulcans are now two games back of the Mountain Cats for fourth place in the divisional standings with eight league games remaining on the schedule. Meanwhile, Pitt-Johnstown stands at 16-20 this season behind an 11-9 mark in its first year in the PSAC.

In Game 1, Dennis (5-2) registered the second no-hitter in the league this spring and became the first Cal U pitcher to accomplish the feat since former All-American Randy Sturgill threw a no-hitter against Wheeling Jesuit on March, 25, 2008. Dennis faced just one over the minimum on Wednesday and tied his career high with six strikeouts in 7.0 innings (75 pitches). He retired 11-straight batters to start the game before a hit by pitch in the bottom of the fourth resulted in the only base runner of the game for the Mountain Cats.

The Vulcans jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first behind a leadoff triple by sophomore third baseman Mick Fennell (Butler, Pa./Butler) and an RBI single by senior first baseman Derrik Zeroski (Clinton, Pa./West Allegheny). Cal U added to the lead in the second inning when senior right fielder Chuck Gasti (Carmichaels, Pa./Carmichaels) scored from second base on an RBI single by freshman catcher Joe Yourgal (Millersville, Pa./Lancaster Catholic).

UPJ then retired nine-straight batters before issuing two-out walk in the fifth inning. The Vulcans threatened to add insurance runs in both the sixth and seventh after advancing runners into scoring position.

Mountain Cats starter Derek Younker (5-4) suffered the loss after allowing two runs (both earned) on four hits and one walk in 3.0 innings (46 pitches).

In Game 2, Cal U tied the game by scoring a pair of runs in the sixth before UPJ earned the win with a bases-loaded, walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth. Fennell, who was the starting pitcher, paced the offense by going 3-for-4 with two doubles, one triple and two runs scored. Senior center fielder Ben Carson (Coal Center, Pa./California) and Zeroski both finished with two hits in the loss.

Fennell opened the game with a double and scored on a fly-out before the Mountain Cats claimed a 2-1 lead behind three-straight, two-out hits in the bottom of the third. UPJ added an insurance run on a two-out single in the fifth to stretch the lead to 3-1.

The Vulcans answered with a pair of runs on four hits in the top of the sixth. Fennell started the inning with a triple before scoring on a ground-out. Zeroski followed with a double and advanced to third on a single by sophomore first baseman David Marcus (Whitby, Ontario/Father Leo J. Austin). Cal U then scored the game-tying run on a sacrifice fly and later had runners on second and third before a ground-out ended the inning.

UPJ was forced to strand a pair of base runners in the seventh and advanced a runner to third in the eighth. The following inning, the Mountain Cats collected back-to-back hits with one out before an intentional walk loaded the bases. Third baseman Jake Stern then delivered the walk-off single to right field while facing a 0-2 count.

Redshirt freshman Alex Ziegler (Butler, Pa./Butler) suffered the loss after allowing one run (earned) on four hits and three walks in 3.1 innings (47 pitches). Fennell yielded three runs (all earned) on eight hits with no walks over 5.0 innings (67 pitches) while taking a no-decision. UPJ reliever Ryan Socol (2-0) earned the win after tossing 3.2 innings (31 pitches) of two-hit scoreless relief.

The Vulcans return to action with a four-game weekend series against Clarion, beginning with a road doubleheader on Friday, April 18, at 1 p.m.