WASHINGTON, Pa. (March 19) – The Vulcans opened Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play on a cold, snowy Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader sweep of Clarion at CONSOL Energy Park, winning 4-2 and 11-4.

With the sweep, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team improves to 9-9 this season and open divisional play with a 2-0 mark. Meanwhile, Clarion falls to 3-8 overall with a 0-2 record in league action.

In Game 1, senior Jack Dennis (Toronto, Ontario/Birchmount Park) improved to 3-1 this season after tossing his second complete game of the year. He allowed two runs (both earned) on seven hits and two walks over 7.0 innings (108 pitches), while setting a season high with seven strikeouts. Dennis forced the Golden Eagles to strand six runners on base, all in scoring position, and improved to 11-1 in his career in conference play.

Clarion took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first and added another run in the third, scoring both runs on two-out doubles. The Vulcans answered in the bottom of the third when junior shortstop Danny McGrath (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) lined an RBI double to left center with two outs. Cal U then tied the score at 2-2 in the fourth when freshman designated hitter Kristian Webb (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair) collected an RBI single with runners on the corners.

In the top of fifth, the Golden Eagles stranded a runner on third after the inning ended with an over-the shoulder, sliding catch by sophomore second baseman Garrett Brooks (Connellsville, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic). Senior center fielder Mick Fennell (Butler, Pa./Butler) led off the inning with a double and McGrath followed with an RBI single to shallow right field. McGrath, who advanced to second on the throw home, later scored on an RBI double by sophomore right fielder Chris Wastchak (Peters Twp., Pa./Peters Township), 4-2.

McGrath finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored, while Wastchak also collected two hits. Fennell scored twice in the victory.

Clarion senior Tyler Delval (1-1) suffered the loss after yielding four runs (all earned) on seven hits and three walks in 6.0 innings (88 pitches).

In Game 2, the Vulcans scored eight of their 11 runs with two outs. Sophomore shortstop Austin Logan (Beaver, Pa./Beaver) went 3-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored, while Fennell finished 2-for-4 with a three-run homer, four RBI and two runs scored. Senior left fielder Jared Grove (Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim) posted two hits and scored twice and Wastchak collected a pair of hits.

Clarion held a 2-0 lead after scoring in both the first and second before Cal U answered with five runs, all with two outs, in the bottom of the second. Brooks and sophomore third baseman Levi Krause (East Berlin, Pa./Spring Grove) collected RBI singles before Fennell followed with a homer, his sixth of the season, which is just one shy of matching his career high set last year.

The Golden Eagles cut the deficit to 5-4 after scoring in the third and fourth. However, the Vulcans countered with three runs in the fourth, again all with two outs. Fennell started the two-out rally with a single and scored on a double down the left-field line by McGrath. Senior first baseman David Marcus (Whitby, Ontario/Father Leo J. Austin), who was playing for the first time since the season-opener on Feb. 20, followed with an RBI single before later scoring on a double by Grove, 8-4.

Clarion loaded the bases in the fifth before the inning ended with Marcus making a catch in foul territory against the wall along the first-base line. In the bottom of the inning, Cal U added to its lead with an RBI double by Logan and a sacrifice fly by Fennell. The Vulcans stretched the lead to 11-4 after scoring on a fielding error in the bottom of the sixth.

Fennell earned the win to improve to 2-1 this year, allowing four runs (three earned) on 10 hits in 5.0 innings (78 pitches). Clarion starter Sean White (3-2) was saddled with the loss after being roughed up for eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits in 3.2 innings (85 pitches).

The Vulcans are scheduled to return to action tomorrow, Sunday, March 20, with a doubleheader at Clarion, starting at 1 p.m.