ERIE, Pa. (March 20) – Facing a four-run deficit in the middle of Game 1, the Vulcans rallied to claim both games of a doubleheader at Gannon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action on Friday afternoon, winning 11-8 and 4-1.
With the sweep, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team improves to 5-10 overall with a 3-3 mark in divisional play. Meanwhile, Gannon drops to 10-10 this season and 2-4 in conference action. The Vulcans swept a road doubleheader against the Golden Knights for the first time since the 2010 season.
In Game 1, the Vulcans rallied from a four-run deficit in the middle innings to earn an 11-8 victory. Junior
Cory Craig (Youngsville, Pa./Youngsville) improved to 2-2 this season after facing the minimum over 2.0 innings of scoreless relief. Senior starter
Justin Taylor (Julian, Pa./Bald Eagle) took a no-decision after surrendering seven runs (all earned) on 12 hits in 3.1 innings (82 pitches). Gannon starter Aaron Cox (2-3) suffered the loss after being roughed for 10 runs (six earned) and 10 hits in 5.2 innings (119 pitches).
After each team scored one run in the first, the Golden Knights scored four runs in the bottom of the third to take a 5-1 lead. Cal U countered with two runs in the fourth on back-to-back solo homers by senior shortstop
Matt Peters (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) and junior
David Marcus (Whitby, Ontario/Father Leo J. Austin) before Gannon answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning, 7-3.
Cal U trimmed the deficit to 7-6 after scoring three runs in the top of the fifth. Senior catcher
Will Kaufman (Roanoke, Va./Patrick Henry) drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on bunt single before scoring on an RBI double by junior center fielder
Mick Fennell (Butler, Pa./Butler). The Vulcans later added a pair of runs on in the fourth on RBI ground-outs before the Golden Knights posted one run in the bottom of the inning.
In the sixth, the Vulcans took advantage of an error to open the inning and scored four unearned runs in the inning to take a 10-8 lead. Junior left fielder
Jared Grove (Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim) reached on an error and stole second before freshman designated hitter
Garrett Brooks (Connellsville, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) later delivered a two-out RBI double. Fennell followed with an RBI triple before sophomore
Danny McGrath (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) lined an RBI single. McGrath stole second and advanced to third on an error before Peters closed the scoring with an RBI single. Cal U added an insurance run in the top of the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Kaufman, 11-8.
Four different players registered multi-hit efforts in Game 1 with Fennell finishing 3-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored from the leadoff spot. Marcus went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and three RBI, while Peters finished 2-for-3 with a solo homer and two RBI. Brooks added two hits and two runs scored in the win, while McGrath collected a pair of RBI.
In Game 2, junior
Jack Dennis (Toronto, Ontario/Birchmount Park) earned the complete-game victory to improve to 1-0 this season while making his third start. He yielded one run (earned) and scattered seven hits and one walk in 7.0 innings (110 pitches), while setting a career high with nine strikeouts on Friday. Gannon freshman David Cricks (2-2) was saddled with the loss after allowing four runs (three earned) on nine hits and three walks in 7.0 innings (107 pitches).
The Vulcans took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first without collecting a hit. Fennell led off the game with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch before moving to third on a ground-out. After Peters drew a walk, Fennell scored on an errant pickoff attempt of Peters at first. Cal U added to its lead with pair of runs with two outs in the third, as Peters lined an RBI double and Marcus collected an RBI single.
The Golden Knights scored their lone run of the game on a solo homer by Cox in the bottom of the fourth. Cal U eventually stretched the lead to 4-1 in the sixth inning when redshirt junior
GJ Senchak (New Castle, Pa./New Castle) delivered a two-out RBI single.
McGrath and Senchak each finished with multi-hit games in the nightcap, while Fennell scored twice.
Cal U continues its weekend series with Gannon tomorrow, Saturday, March 21, when it hosts a doubleheader at CONSOL Energy Park with first pitch at 1 p.m.
