WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (March 7) – The California University of Pennsylvania baseball team lost both games of its season-opening doubleheader on walk-off hits against Winston-Salem State by scores of 2-1 and 4-3 on Saturday afternoon at BB&T Ballpark.
 
With the losses, the Vulcans open the season at 0-2 overall. Meanwhile, the Rams improve to 12-4 overall and extend their winning streak to three games.
 
In Game 1, the Vulcans took a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth inning off a solo homer by senior shortstop Matt Peters (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby). After the Rams put runners on the corners in the bottom of the inning, Connor Andrus scored on a two-out error to tie the game at 1-1. In the bottom of the seventh, Winston-Salem State loaded the based on two singles and a walk before Andrus delivered a walk-off single to center field to give the Rams a 2-1 win.
 
Cal U totaled just two hits in the loss, as Peters finished 2-for-3 with a double and solo homer. Senior starting pitcher Justin Taylor (Julian, Pa./Bald Eagle) struck out eight over 6.0 innings while scattering six hits and one run (unearned). Junior Andre Jones (New Castle, Pa./Union) suffered the loss in relief after yielding three hits on one run.
 
In Game 2, the Vulcans jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first after junior center fielder Mick Fennell (Butler, Pa./Butler) led off the game with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by junior first baseman David Marcus (Whitby, Ontario/Father Leo J. Austin). Peters walked, stole second and scored on a fielder's choice by freshman designated hitter Chris Wastchak (Peters Twp., Pa./Peters Township). The Rams responded by taking a 3-2 lead in the bottom half of the first after a two-run single by Phillip Page. In the top of the third, Marcus singled to left field and came around to score on an RBI double by Wastchak. Cal U starter Jack Dennis (Toronto, Ontario/Birchmount Park) retired the Winston-Salem State side in order in the third, fifth and sixth before exiting the game. Alex Grubb then led off the bottom of the seventh with a walk-off home run to right field to cap the sweep.
 
Marcus tallied a multi-hit game, going 2-for-2 with an RBI, run scored and one walk, while Wastchak finished with two RBI. Senior Luke Burton (Ambridge, Pa./Ambridge) took the loss after facing just one batter in the seventh. Dennis took a no-decision after allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits with six strikeouts and no walks in 6.0 innings.
 
The Vulcans conclude their four-game series at Winston-Salem State with a doubleheader tomorrow, Sunday, March 8, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.