JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (April 17) – The Vulcans earned a doubleheader split against Pitt-Johnstown at Point Stadium on Friday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play, losing 6-4 in Game 1 before taking a 9-5 victory in Game 2.

With the split, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team moves to 18-18 overall and 12-10 in league play to remain third in the divisional standings. Meanwhile, UPJ moves to 6-32-1 overall behind a 6-15-1 mark in PSAC West action.

In Game 1, Cal U jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead on an RBI double to left field by junior first baseman David Marcus (Whitby, Ontario/Father Leo J. Austin) that scored senior shortstop Matt Peters (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby). Pitt-Johnstown tied the game in the bottom half of the first on a wild pitch that scored Dillon Boyer. The game remained tied until the bottom of the fourth when the Mountain Cats led off the inning with a double before an RBI single from Luke Williams gave UPJ its first lead of the game. After a double play, UPJ then loaded the bases on two hit batters and a single. Boyer then delivered a two-run single to left center as the Mountain Cats went ahead 4-1.

The Vulcans responded in the top of the fifth. Cal U put runners on the corners after singles by junior center fielder Mick Fennell (Butler, Pa./Butler) and sophomore second baseman Danny McGrath (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional). Peters then drove home Fennell on a single through the left side. Two batters later, freshman designated hitter Chris Wastchak (Peters Twp., Pa./Peters Township) delivered a two-run single down the left-field line to tie the game at 4-4. The game remained tied until the bottom of the sixth when the Mountain Cats scored two runs on a two-out triple to right center and a double to left field.

Peters finished the game 2-for-3 with two runs scored, an RBI and a hit by pitch. Marcus was 2-for-4 with double and an RBI.

Cal U senior staring pitcher Justin Taylor (Julian, Pa./Bald Eagle) took the loss after tossing 5.2 innings, while allowing six runs (all earned) on 10 hits and struck out five.

In Game 2, the Vulcans jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Fennell opened the game with a single before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt. Fennell then scored on a single by Peters. Marcus hit a triple on a line drive to right field to put Cal U up 2-0 before he scored on a sacrifice fly by Wastchak. UPJ tacked on a run in the bottom half of the inning on a two-out an RBI single by Luke Williams. The Mountain Cats pulled to within 3-2 in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice fly.

Cal U added to its lead in the top of the third on a mammoth homer to straight-away center field by Peters that easily cleared the 410-foot mark. Two batters later, Wastchak hit a line-drive homer to center field to add to the lead. The Vulcans tallied on two more runs in the sixth on RBI singles by Fennell and Peters before adding two more insurance runs in the top of the seventh to take a 9-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh. UPJ loaded the bases on three-straight, one-out singles. The Mountain Cats then collected an infield single before Nate Negri added a two-run single up the middle.

Vulcan junior starting pitcher Jack Dennis (Toronto, Ontario/Birchmount Park) earned the win after tossing a 7.0-inning complete game. Dennis struck out five while allowing five runs (all earned) on 11 hits. Of the 21 outs that Dennis recorded, 15 of them came either by strikeout or groundout and threw 74 of his 104 pitches for strikes.

Peters paced the offensive attack, as he finished 4-for-4 with one homer, three RBI and two runs scored. Fennell was 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs, while Wastchak went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Redshirt-freshman third baseman Levi Krause (East Berlin, Pa./Spring Grove) finished 2-for-3 with two runs and sophomore catcher Joe Yourgal (Millersville, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) was 2-for-2 with an RBI and two sacrifices.

The Vulcans continue PSAC West play tomorrow, Saturday, April 18, when they host UPJ in a doubleheader at CONSOL Energy Park beginning at 1 p.m.