WASHINGTON, Pa. (April 24) – Behind a two-run home run from junior center fielder
Mick Fennell (Butler, Pa./Butler), the Vulcans split a doubleheader against Clarion at CONSOL Energy Park on Friday afternoon to clinch a berth in the upcoming Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament, losing 9-4 in Game 1 before earning a 3-2 victory.
With the split, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team moves to 22-20 overall and 14-12 in league play. The Vulcans secured a post-season berth by virtue of the split and IUP losing twice to Gannon. Meanwhile, Clarion moves to 8-25 this season a 6-20 conference mark.
Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth in Game 2, freshman second baseman
Garrett Brooks (Connellsville, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) reached on a one-out single and Fennell then tucked a 1-2 pitch inside the right-field foul pole for a home run, 3-2. Junior starting pitcher
Jack Dennis (Toronto, Ontario/Birchmount Park) finished out the complete game by retiring six of the final seven batters for Clarion to earn the win.
The Vulcans jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first with Fennell scoring on an RBI single to center field by senior shortstop
Matt Peters (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby). The Golden Eagles tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the second on a homer by left fielder Mike Lockhart before taking the lead in the fifth on a double down the right-field line and an RBI single to center field.
Fennell finished 2-for-3 with a two-run homer and two runs scored. Peters was 1-for-3 with an RBI, while Brooks, junior left fielder
Jared Grove (Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim) and freshman designated hitter
Chris Wastchak (Peters Twp., Pa./Peters Township) each collected a hit in the win. Dennis improved to 4-1 after tallying his fourth complete game of the season. He struck out five while scattering seven hits and allowing two runs (both earned).
In Game 1, Clarion used a six-run third inning to take a 6-0 lead. The Golden Eagles then pushed their lead to 7-0 in the top of the fifth on an RBI single from Lockhart that went through the left side. The Vulcans avoided the shutout in the bottom half of the fifth after redshirt freshman third baseman
Levi Krause (East Berlin, Pa./Spring Grove) hit a solo shot to left field. Clarion then added two runs in the sixth to take a 9-1 lead entering the bottom of the ninth. Krause led the ninth off with a single and later scored on an RBI single down the right-field line from sophomore left fielder
Danny McGrath (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional). Peters followed with a double to left center to make it 9-3. Junior first baseman
David Marcus (Whitby, Ontario/Father Leo J. Austin) then scored Peters on an RBI single as the Vulcan rally was not enough.
Peters finished the game 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run. Krause was 3-for-3 with a solo homer and two runs scored. Senior starter
Justin Taylor (Julian, Pa./Bald Eagle) was saddled with the loss after striking out five over 5.0 innings.
The Vulcans wrap up the regular season tomorrow, April 25, when they travel to play a doubleheader at Clarion beginning at 1 p.m.
