WASHINGTON, Pa. (March 29) – Utilizing a three-hit, complete-game shutout and a 12-run inning, the Vulcans swept a doubleheader with Slippery Rock on Sunday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action, winning 1-0 and 12-6.

With the victories, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team improves to 10-11 overall after winning seven of its last eight games. The Vulcans also stand at 7-3 in divisional play this season. Meanwhile, Slippery Rock falls to 10-11 this year behind a 3-7 mark in league action.

In Game 1, senior Justin Taylor (Julian, Pa./Bald Eagle) improved to 1-1 this year while tossing his seventh career complete-game shutout. He scattered seven hits and issued one walk over 7.0 innings (108 pitches), while registering six strikeouts. Taylor induced 12 ground-outs and forced The Rock to leave eight runners on base, including four in scoring position.

Slippery Rock stranded runners on the corners in the top of the first before junior center fielder Mick Fennell (Butler, Pa./Butler) led off the bottom of the inning with an opposite field homer, his second of the year. In the fifth, The Rock had runners on second and third following a two-out double before Taylor induced a ground-out to first to end the inning.

The Vulcans were limited to just three hits in the victory, as Fennell finished 2-for-3 with a solo homer. Rock senior Ryan Oglesby (2-2) suffered the loss after allowing one run (earned) and just five baserunners over 6.0 innings (76 pitches).

In Game 2, the Vulcans and The Rock combined for 18 runs and 19 hits in the fifth inning while sending a staggering 28 batters to the plate. The Nos. 1-5 hitters for Cal U went a combined 11-for-19 with nine RBI and eight runs scored in the victory. Sophomore second baseman Danny McGrath (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) finished 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, while senior shortstop Matt Peters (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) went 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Fennell collected a pair of hits and scored twice from the leadoff spot, while junior center fielder David Marcus (Whitby, Ontario/Father Leo J. Austin) tallied two runs and two RBI while hitting cleanup. Redshirt junior GJ Senchak (New Castle, Pa./New Castle) finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored, while senior catcher Will Kaufman (Roanoke, Va./Patrick Henry) went 2-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored.

Cal U benefited from a throwing error in the top of the second when freshman right fielder Chris Wastchak (Peters Twp., Pa./Peters Township), who also posted a multi-hit game, scored from second after a leadoff double. In the top of the fifth, The Rock took their only lead of the doubleheader at 6-1 following three-run homers by catcher Chris Porterfield and designated hitter Alex Bell.

In the bottom of the inning, the Vulcans batted around twice and scored 12 runs on 12 hits to reclaim the lead at 13-6. Kaufman opened the inning with a solo homer, his fifth of the year, to right field before McGrath lined an RBI single through the left side. Peters followed with a two-run triple to left-center field and scored on an RBI single by Marcus. Cal U later added to the lead with a two-run single up the middle by Senchak before Kaufman reached on a single in his second at-bat of the inning. Fennell eventually followed with an RBI single and McGrath collected a two-run single before scoring on a double by Peters. Marcus then closed the scoring in the inning with an RBI single through the middle. The Rock went through four pitchers in the fifth inning with three allowing at least three runs.

Junior starter Jack Dennis (Toronto, Ontario/Birchmount Park) improved to 2-0 this season despite surrendering six runs (all earned) on nine hits in 5.0 innings (82 pitches.). Rock senior Kyle Schneider (2-3) was saddled with the loss after being roughed up for seven runs (six earned) on eight hits in 4.0-plus innings (78 pitches).

The Vulcans close out their series with Slippery Rock tomorrow, Monday March 30, with a road doubleheader, beginning at 2 p.m.