WASHINGTON, Pa. (March 11) – The Vulcans posted late three-run innings in both games on Friday afternoon to complete a doubleheader sweep, 6-3 and 5-2, against Davis & Elkins in non-conference play at CONSOL Energy Park.
With the wins, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team improves to 7-9 on the year. Meanwhile, the Senators fall to 5-11 overall.
In Game 1, Davis & Elkins took a 3-0 lead in the first inning after the first two batters reached base before a two-run double with the runner on second later scoring on a wild pitch. The Vulcans tied the score in the bottom of the fifth after back-to-back, one-out singles from sophomore third baseman
Levi Krause (East Berlin, Pa./Spring Grove) and sophomore second baseman
Garrett Brooks (Connellsville, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic). Junior
Taylor Zackman (Bordentown, N.J./Bordentown Regional) reached base on a throwing error that allowed Krause to score and Brooks to advance to third base. Junior right fielder
Bobby Thompson (Blairsville, Pa./Blairsville) followed with a one-out RBI single to right field that allowed Brooks to score before a two-out RBI single from junior shortstop
Danny McGrath (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) tied the game at 3-3.
Cal U took the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning after a lead-off single from sophomore first baseman
Chris Wastchak (Peters Twp., Pa./Peters Township) before freshman
Nico Marchetti (Laurel, Md./St. Vincent Pallotti) entered as a pinch runner. Junior catcher
Joe Yourgal (Millersville, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) reached on a fielding error that advanced Marchetti before senior left fielder
Jared Grove (Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim) hit a single to load the bases. Marchetti scored after a sacrifice fly from Brooks to give the Vulcans a 4-3 lead before Zackman posted a two-run triple to increase the lead to 6-3.
Senior
Jack Dennis (Toronto, Ontario/Birchmount Park) earned the win to improve to 2-1 after pitching a complete game, scattering six hits with three runs (all earned), six strikeouts and no walks. Davis & Elkins starter Zach Bradfield took the loss after surrendering six runs (one earned) on eight hits in 5.2 innings.
McGrath finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and six different Vulcans collected one hit in the win.
In Game 2, Cal U scored in the bottom of the first on an inside-the-park home run from McGrath before the Senators took the lead in the top of the third on a two-out RBI double and RBI triple, 2-1. Cal U tied the game in the bottom of the third after McGrath scored on a wild pitch following a one-out triple. Senior center fielder
Mick Fennell (Butler, Pa./Butler) led off the bottom of the fifth with a single before advancing to second base on a wild pitch and McGrath reached base on a walk. Wastchak posted a two-run single to left field before advancing to second on a throwing error, which allowed him to score on a single to right field by Grove to increase the lead to 5-2.
Sophomore
Carter Krick (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) earned the victory after pitching a scoreless 1.0 inning of relief after senior starting pitcher
GJ Senchak (New Castle, Pa./New Castle) pitched 4.0 innings, scattering four hits with two runs (earned), two strikeouts and no walks. Fennell registered the save after 2.0 innings of relief. Davis & Elkins starter Tyler Honeycutt recorded the loss (1-4) after surrendering five runs (four earned) on nine hits in 4.1 innings.
Wastchak finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored, while McGrath went 2-for-2 with one RBI and three runs scored.
Cal U returns to action when it opens Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play on Friday, March 18, with a doubleheader at Clarion starting at 1 p.m.
