• Game 1 Box Score
• Game 2 Box Score

INDIANA, Pa. (April 8) – Sophomore Mick Fennell (Butler, Pa./Butler) belted a two-run homer and earned a complete-game victory in Game 2, as the Vulcans earned a split of a doubleheader at IUP on Tuesday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action, falling 1-0 before winning 5-3.

With the split, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team moves to 17-13 overall and IUP now sits at 12-15 this season. The Vulcans and Crimson Hawks, along with Pitt-Johnstown, are tied for fourth place in the divisional standings with a 6-8 record at the midway point of league play.

In Game 2, Fennell (3-2)  earned his first win since March 15 after allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits in 7.0 innings (103 pitches). He forced the Crimson Hawks to leave runners in scoring position in each of the last three innings while tossing his eighth career complete game. IUP starter Kyle Zambanini (1-5) suffered the loss after yielding five runs (four earned) on four hits and five walks in 3.2 innings (73 pitches).

The Vulcans loaded the bases in the top of the first and took a 2-0 lead on a sacrifice fly and an error. Cal U added to the lead in the second when Fennell posted a two-run homer, the first of his career. The Crimson Hawks answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third on back-to-back RBI ground-outs.

In the fourth, sophomore first baseman David Marcus (Whitby, Ontario/Father Leo J. Austin) delivered a two-out RBI single with runners on first and second. IUP countered with an unearned run in the fifth with an RBI double following a two-out error. The Crimson Hawks managed to advance a runner to third base in both the sixth and seventh before Fennell worked out of both innings without allowing a run.

Senior right fielder Chuck Gasti (Carmichaels, Pa./Carmichaels) finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and one walk while hitting No. 2 in the lineup for the first time this season. Marcus added a pair of hits in the victory and Fennell scored twice from the leadoff spot.

In Game 1, sophomore Cory Craig (Youngsville, Pa./Youngsville) and IUP starter Jared Weed combined to allow just five hits with the game ending on a wild pitch with one out in the bottom of the seventh. Craig (2-4) was saddled with the loss after yielding one run (unearned) on three hits and one walk in 6.1 innings. Weed (2-3) tossed a two-hit, complete-game shutout and also issued just one walk in 7.0 innings.

Both teams managed to advance a runner to second base in the third inning before the Vulcans had another scoring opportunity in the fifth following a two-out walk and stolen base by senior center fielder Ben Carson (Coal Center, Pa./California). In the sixth, Fennell reached on a single and advanced to second before moving to third base on a ground-out. However, Weed induced another ground-out to end the inning.

Craig retired the Crimson Hawks in order in the sixth before the leadoff batter in the seventh reached on a two-out error. The runner then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt before the Vulcans issued an intentional walk to set up a possible double play. Following a mound visit, the second pitch of the next at-bat resulted in a wild pitch that scored the game's only run.

Carson reached safely in both plate appearances, single and walk, while making his first appearance in a week.

The Vulcans return to the diamond tomorrow, Wednesday, April 9, when they host a non-conference, nine-inning game against Penn State-Greater Allegheny at CONSOL Energy Park, starting at 12 p.m.