• Game 1 Box Score
• Game 2 Box Score

WASHINGTON, Pa. (April 19) – Behind a 10-run sixth inning in Game 2, the Vulcans managed a doubleheader split with Clarion in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play on Saturday afternoon at CONSOL Energy Park, falling 6-4 before winning 12-5.

With the split, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team moves to 24-17 overall behind a 17-9 mark in home games. The Vulcans enter the final week of the regular season in fifth place in the PSAC West standings with a 12-12 divisional record and one-game back of the final spot for the PSAC Tournament. Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles move to 8-24 this season and 5-17 in league play.

In Game 2, the Vulcans entered the bottom of the fifth trailing 5-2 before scoring 10 runs on six hits, three walks and one error. Five different players collected two hits in the victory and four players tallied at least a pair of RBI. Sophomore third baseman Mick Fennell (Butler, Pa./Butler) went 2-for-3 with two walks, three RBI and two runs scored from the leadoff spot. Senior left fielder John Orr (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler) finished with a pair of hits and RBI and senior second baseman Giovanni Morales (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) posted two hits and two runs scored.

Clarion took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first before scoring a pair of runs on a two-out dropped fly in the fourth. The Vulcans mounted a two-run rally in the bottom of the inning to trim the deficit to 4-2 behind four-straight, two-out singles with RBI singles by Fennell and Orr.

In the sixth, the Golden Eagles stretched the lead to 6-2 with a two-run single before Fennell moved to the mound. Following a single, Clarion had runners on the corners with one out before Fennell induced an inning-ending double play. The Vulcans took their first lead of the day in the bottom of the inning after sending 13 batters to the plate. With runners on first and second, junior Blake Henderson (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley) delivered a pinch-hit, two-run double before later scoring on a wild pitch with the bases loaded. Senior center fielder Ben Carson (Coal Center, Pa./California) followed with a two-run single before Cal U loaded the bases on an infield single and walk. Freshman Shane Heim (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland), who entered the game earlier in the inning as a pinch-runner, then executed a squeeze bunt and Fennell followed with a two-run single through the right side. The Vulcans added their last run of the inning on a ground-out by Orr.

Fennell (4-2), who was one four Cal U pitchers in the game, earned the win after tossing 1.2 innings of scoreless relief. Sophomore starter Jack Dennis (Toronto, Ontario/Birchmount Park) took a no-decision after allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits in 3.1 innings (73 pitches). Clarion reliever Joey Lopez (1-1), who started at shortstop, suffered the loss after being roughed up for six runs (five earned) on three hits and two walks without recording an out in the sixth.

In Game 1, Cal U had the game-tying run on base in the seventh before finishing the game with seven runners left on base, including five in scoring position. Sophomore David Marcus (Whitby, Ontario/Father Leo J. Austin) went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI while hitting cleanup and senior first baseman Derrik Zeroski (Clinton, Pa./West Allegheny) finished with two hits and scored twice. Junior catcher Will Kaufman (Roanoke, Va./Patrick Henry) also collected a pair of hits in the loss.

The Golden Eagles scored three runs in the first before the Vulcans countered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning on back-to-back RBI singles by Marcus and junior shortstop Matt Peters (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby). Clarion collected a two-out RBI single in the second before scoring a pair of runs in the top of the fifth to stretch the lead to 6-2.

In the bottom of the inning, Orr led off the inning with a walk and advanced to third on a double by Zeroski. Cal U then scored a pair of runs in the inning on a ground-out and sacrifice fly. Clarion threatened to add to the lead in the sixth before a fly-out ended the inning with the bases loaded.

Clarion freshman Kane McCall (4-3) earned the win after allowing four runs (all earned) on eight hits and three walks in 6.0 innings (97 pitches). Lopez worked a scoreless 1.0 inning of relief to record the save. Junior starter Luke Burton (Ambridge, Pa./Ambridge) was saddled with the loss after yielding four runs (one earned) on six hits in 3.0 innings (52 pitches).

The Vulcans return to action on Tuesday, April 22, when they play a non-conference doubleheader against Davis & Elkins at CONSOL Energy Park, starting at 1 p.m.