WASHINGTON, Pa. (March 24) – The California University of Pennsylvania baseball team split a non-conference doubleheader with Clarion, winning 7-2 before falling 15-12 in nine innings, on Tuesday afternoon at CONSOL Energy Park.

With the split, the Vulcans move to 8-11 overall and see their five game winning-streak snapped. Meanwhile, Clarion goes to 2-11 on the season.

In Game 1, Cal U jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two innings. Freshman right fielder Chris Wastchak (Peters Twp., Pa./Peters Township) delivered a two-out, RBI scoring single through the right side in the bottom of the first. The Vulcans then scored three runs in the second on a double by junior center fielder Mick Fennell (Butler, Pa./Butler). Sophomore second baseman Danny McGrath (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) produced a sacrifice fly before Fennell came around to score on an infield single by senior shortstop Matt Peters (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby).

In the bottom of the fourth, freshman catcher Parker Lynn scored on a double down the right-field line by Fennell. The Vulcans added two runs in the seventh on an RBI single by Peters. Junior first baseman David Marcus (Whitby, Ontario/Father Leo J. Austin) then produced a run-scoring single to center field to extend the lead to 7-0. Clarion left fielder Mike Lockhart hit a two-run home run to left field in the top of the seventh to prevent the shutout.

Fennell finished the game 2-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored. Peters tallied a three-hit game, while driving in two runs and scoring once. Lynn posted a multi-hit game, as he finished 2-for-2 with a run. Cal U junior starting pitcher Andre Jones (New Castle, Pa./Union) earned the win after pitching 6.0 scoreless innings and striking out five. He allowed just one hit and had a no-hitter through 5.2 innings. Clarion starter Joey Lopez suffered the loss after tossing 4.0 innings and yielding five earned runs on seven hits and three walks.

In Game 2, the Vulcans took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning before the Golden Eagles answered back with six runs in the top of the third. Cal U responded in the bottom half with five runs to tie the game at 6-6 on singles by Wastchak, redshirt freshman third baseman Levi Krause (East Berlin, Pa./Spring Grove) and an error. Both teams each scored two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings, as the game remained tied at 10-10. After the Golden Eagles took a 12-10 lead in the top of the eighth, the Vulcans responded with a mammoth two-run home run to right field by Marcus. Clarion then tacked on an RBI single through the left side, an RBI triple down the right-field line and an unearned run to take the 15-12 win.

Marcus finished 2-for-5 with three RBI and two runs. Fennell was 3-for-6 with a run scored, while Peters scored three runs and was 1-for-4 at the plate.

Freshman reliever Carter Krick (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) suffered the loss after allowing three runs (two earned) in 2.0 innings while scattering three hits. Sean White earned the win in relief for Clarion, as he tossed 4.2 innings while striking out four and allowing two runs (one earned) and two hits.

The Vulcans resume Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play on Friday, March 27, when they travel to Slippery Rock for a doubleheader, beginning at 1 p.m.