WASHINGTON, Pa. (Feb. 21) – The Vulcans closed their season-opening series with Walsh on Sunday afternoon at CONSOL Energy Park with a doubleheader split, suffering a 6-5 loss in Game 1 before posting a 7-1 victory in Game 2.

With the split, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team starts the year with a 3-1 overall record. Meanwhile, Walsh falls to 1-3 this season.

In Game 2, sophomore Carter Krick (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) earned the first win of his career while tossing a complete game in his third career start. He limited the Cavaliers to only three hits and issued four walks, while allowing one run (earned) over 7.0 innings (87 pitches). Walsh starter Nick Bebout suffered the loss after yielding five runs (all earned) on six hits in 3.1 innings (62 pitches).

Cal U took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a solo homer by sophomore designated hitter Chris Wastchak (Peters Twp., Pa./Peters Township). The Vulcans added to their lead in the third, scoring three runs on three hits. Junior second baseman Danny McGrath (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) delivered an RBI triple before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Wastchak. Junior catcher Joe Yourgal (Millersville, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) then followed with a solo homer, which was his second of the day after entering the year with two homers in 87 career at-bats.

The Vulcans manufactured a run in the bottom of the fourth on just one hit with third baseman Garrett Brooks (Connellsville, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) scoring on a sacrifice fly after reaching on a leadoff hit by pitch. After having at least one base runner in each of the opening four innings, Walsh manufactured a run in the fifth after posting just one hit in the inning.

Cal U answered with two runs in the sixth on three hits and two errors. The inning started with a fielding error and freshman first baseman Kristian Webb (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair) and freshman left fielder Taylor Zackman (Bordentown, N.J./Bordentown Regional) later delivered back-to-back RBI singles.

Webb and Yourgal each posted a pair of hits in the victory, while Wastchak finished with two RBI.

In Game 1, the Vulcans held a 4-0 lead after three innings before Walsh claimed the lead at 6-4 in the fifth inning. Cal U scored in the bottom of the inning and eventually had the game-tying run on third base in the bottom of the seventh.

Cal U took a 1-0 lead in the second on a leadoff solo homer Yourgal, who started the game as the designated hitter. In the second, sophomore shortstop Austin Logan (Beaver, Pa./Beaver) led off with a double before scoring on an RBI single by McGrath. Yourgal later reached on a single and advanced to third on a fielding error, which allowed McGrath to score. Senior left fielder Jared Grove (Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim) then followed with a two-out RBI single.

Walsh countered with two runs in the top of the fourth and took the lead in the fifth inning after scoring four runs on five hits, including four with two outs. Senior center fielder Mick Fennell (Butler, Pa./Butler) led off the bottom of the fifth with a solo homer to cut the deficit to 6-5.

In the seventh, Fennell reached on a hit by pitch to start the inning before advancing to third on a balk and a ground-out. Fennell was then thrown out at home when attempting to score on a slow grounder by Wastchak that was fielded by the pitcher between the mound and first base.

Yourgal finished 3-for-3 with a solo homer and two RBI and also was saddled with the loss after working 0.1 inning of relief in the fifth. Sophomore Matt Carter (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler) tossed 2.0 scoreless innings of relief, retiring all six batters he faced with three via strikeout.

Cal U returns to action this weekend at the Dinwiddie Challenge in Virginia, beginning on Friday, Feb. 26, against East Stroudsburg.