WASHINGTON, Pa. (April 7) – The California University of Pennsylvania baseball team faced a pair of deficits on Tuesday afternoon at CONSOL Energy Park before earning a 14-9 victory against Alderson Broaddus in non-conference play.

With the win, the Vulcans improve to .500 for the first time this season and stand at 14-14 overall. Meanwhile, the Battlers fall to 18-10 this season after posting an 11-game winning streak prior to last weekend.

Cal U jumped out to 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first on five hits and one error. Junior center fielder Mick Fennell (Butler, Pa./Butler) opened the inning with a solo homer before senior shortstop Matt Peters (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) lined an RBI double to right center. Freshman right fielder Chris Wastchak (Peters Twp., Pa./Peters Township) later delivered an RBI double before scoring on an RBI single through the middle by sophomore catcher Joe Yourgal (Millersville, Pa./Lancaster Catholic). The Battlers countered with three runs in the top of the second before adding three runs in the fourth to take a 6-4 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Vulcans reclaimed the lead at 9-6 after scoring five runs on five hits and one error. Cal U scored its initial run of the inning on a throwing error by the pitcher on a bunt before Fennell registered a sacrifice fly. Sophomore second baseman Danny McGrath (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) then followed with an RBI single through the left side and later scored on a passed ball after a pitching change. Following a walk and single, Wastchak collected an RBI single through the middle before the inning ended with a double play.

Alderson Broaddus responded with three runs in the fifth before Cal U answered with three runs in the sixth to take a 12-9 lead. McGrath and Peters opened the bottom of the sixth with back-to-back walks before junior first baseman David Marcus (Whitby, Ontario/Father Leo J. Austin) lined a double down the left-field line before scoring on an RBI single by Yourgal. The Vulcans added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth to stretch the lead to 14-9. Peters and Marcus led off the single with consecutive doubles before freshman third baseman Garrett Brooks (Connellsville, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) later added a two-out RBI single up the middle.

Five Vulcans registered multi-hit games in the victory with Marcus going 3-for-5 with two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored. Wastchak and Yourgal each posted two hits and two RBI, while Peters finished 2-for-4 with one RBI, four runs scored and two walks. Senior designated hitter Kris Fielding (Port Perry, Ontario/Port Perry) tallied a pair of hits and McGrath scored three runs on Tuesday.

Junior Cam Maxey (Mechanicsville, Va./Atlee) earned the victory after tossing 2.2 scoreless innings of relief and sophomore Alex Ziegler (Butler, Pa./Butler) recorded the save after working 1.2 innings of scoreless relief. Cal U utilized six different pitchers in the victory with Maxey posting the longest outing. Alderson Broaddus freshman Grant Noon (2-1) suffered the loss after allowing six runs (all earned) on seven hits and four walks in 4.2 innings of relief (104 pitches).

The Vulcans return to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play this weekend with a series against division-leading Mercyhurst, beginning with a doubleheader at CONSOL Energy Park on Friday, April 10, starting at 1 p.m.