• Game 1 Box Score
• Game 2 Box Score

CLARION, Pa. (April 18) – Junior Justin Taylor (Julian, Pa./Bald Eagle) and sophomore Cory Craig (Youngsville, Pa./Youngsville) combined to allow one run in complete games, as the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team swept a doubleheader at Clarion on Friday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action, winning 6-0 and 6-1.

With the sweep, the Vulcans improve to 23-16 overall and 11-11 in league play. Cal U sits in fifth place in the PSAC West standings with six divisional games left in the regular season, as the top-four teams in the standings qualify for the league tournament. Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles fall to 7-23 this season behind a 4-16 mark in league action.

In Game 1, Taylor (5-4) tossed his first complete-game shutout of the season and sixth of his career. He scattered four hits and issued no walks over 7.0 innings while posting seven strikeouts. Taylor allowed just two base runners to advance into scoring position with neither runner advancing to third base. Clarion starter Brett Whitman (0-7) was saddled with the loss after yielding six runs (two earned) on seven hits and three walks in 6.2 innings.

Cal U took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when sophomore third baseman Mick Fennell (Butler, Pa./Butler), who reached on a leadoff walk, scored on an error. The Vulcans added three runs in the fifth after benefiting from a pair of errors by the Golden Eagles. With runners on second and third, senior first baseman Derrik Zeroski (Clinton, Pa./West Allegheny) delivered a two-run single with two outs before scoring on an error.

In the seventh, the Vulcans capitalized on a pair of walks when junior shortstop Matt Peters (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) lined a two-out, two-run single to stretch the lead to 6-0.

Zeroski paced the offense by going 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored. Fennell finished with three runs scored after reaching base safely in all four plate appearances – two walks, single, error.

In Game 2, Craig (4-4) allowed one run (earned) and scattered nine hits over 7.0 innings while posting his fourth complete game of year. He forced the Golden Eagles to leave eight runners on base, including six in scoring position. Clarion starter Tyler Delval (2-4) suffered the loss after yielding five runs (three earned) on six hits and three walks.

Cal U took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second on a sacrifice fly before adding an unearned run in the third on an RBI single by senior left fielder John Orr (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler). The Golden Eagles trimmed the deficit to 2-1 in the fourth before the Vulcans countered with a run on a two-out error in the fifth.

In the sixth, Cal U stretched the lead to 5-1 with a ground-out and an RBI single by senior second baseman Giovanni Morales (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep). The Vulcans added an insurance run in the seventh with an RBI ground-out by Peters.

Morales, Orr and sophomore designated hitter David Marcus (Whitby, Ontario/Father Leo J. Austin) each collected two hits and combined for six of the team's seven hits. Marcus also scored twice and senior right fielder Chuck Gasti (Carmichaels, Pa./Carmichaels) recorded a pair of RBI.

The Vulcans continue their weekend series against Clarion tomorrow, Saturday, April 19, with a doubleheader at CONSOL Energy Park, starting at 1 p.m.