INDIANA, Pa. (April 6) – Junior Mick Fennell (Butler, Pa./Butler) belted a pair of solo homers and tossed 3.0 scoreless innings of relief in Game 2 on Monday afternoon, as the Vulcans managed a split of a doubleheader at IUP in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play, falling 9-5 in Game 1 before posting a 13-7 victory in the nightcap.

With the split, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team moves to 13-14 overall and 10-6 in divisional action. Meanwhile, IUP stands at 11-15 this season behind a 7-9 mark in league play.

Fennell, who batted leadoff and started both games in center field, went 2-for-2 with three RBI, three runs scored and two walks in Game 2. He also earned the victory to improve to 2-1 this year after retiring all nine batters he faced, including five via strikeout, in 3.0 innings of relief.

Fennell led off the game with a solo homer before the Vulcans added two runs in the top of the second, including another solo homer by Fennell, before the Crimson Hawks cut the deficit to 3-2 in the bottom of the inning with a two-run homer by center fielder Hunter Bigler. Each team added a run in the third before Cal U took a 6-3 lead in the top of the fourth with an RBI double by sophomore right fielder Shane Heim (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland) and sacrifice fly by Fennell.

IUP countered with four runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 7-6 lead behind a three-run homer by first baseman Ryan Uhl, his 14th of the season. The Vulcans tied the game in the fifth when senior shortstop Matt Peters (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) scored on a double play before reclaiming the lead by scoring six runs in the top of the sixth, 13-6. Cal U loaded the bases to open the sixth with two walks in between a single by Heim before sophomore second baseman Danny McGrath (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) delivered a three-run double. The Vulcans again loaded the bases in the inning before McGratch scored on an RBI single by freshman Chris Wastchak (Peters Twp., Pa./Peters Township). Cal U later added insurance runs in the inning on a fielder's choice and a throwing error.

Peters went 3-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored, while freshman third baseman Garrett Brooks (Connellsville, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) and Heim each added a pair of hits and scored twice.

Cal U starter Andre Jones (New Castle, Pa./Union) took a no-decision on Monday after surrendering seven runs (three earned) on seven hits and three walks in 4.0 innings. IUP senior Austin Mock (0-3) suffered the loss after allowing four runs (all earned) on two hits and two walks without recording an out.

In Game 1, IUP took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the first behind a two-run homer by Uhl before Cal U cut the deficit to 3-2 in the third after junior left field Jared Grove (Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim) drew a bases-loaded walk. The Crimson Hawks countered with a run in the bottom of the inning before scoring five runs in the fourth to take a 9-2 lead.

The Vulcans trimmed the deficit to 9-5 in the fifth with a two-run homer by Wastchak before Peters collected a two-out, RBI double in the seventh.

Redshirt junior starter GJ Senchak (New Castle, Pa./New Castle) was saddled with the loss after being roughed up for nine runs (all earned) on nine hits and two walks in 3.2 innings. IUP junior Matt Doughlas (3-1) earned the win after allowing five runs (all earned) on four hits and six walks in 5.1 innings.

Cal U is scheduled to return to action tomorrow, Tuesday, April 7, with a non-conference game against Alderson Broaddus at CONSOL Energy Park, starting at 2 p.m.