ERIE, Pa. (April 1) – Senior Mick Fennell (Butler, Pa./Butler) tossed a complete-game shutout in Game 2 and recorded a combined eight RBI on Friday afternoon, as the Vulcans swept a doubleheader at Gannon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play, winning 9-7 and 13-0.

With the sweep, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team improve to 15-11 overall and moves into a tie for first place in the divisional standings with an 8-2 mark. Meanwhile, Gannon falls to 20-7 this season behind an 8-2 league record.

In Game 2, Fennell improved to 4-1 this season with his first complete-game shutout since 2014 and went 3-for-5 with a grand slam, six RBI and two runs scored. He scattered five hits and issued only one walk over 7.0 innings (104 pitches), while matching his season high with six strikeouts. Fennell forced the Golden Knights to strand six runners on base with only two advancing into scoring position.

Junior left fielder Taylor Zackman (Bordentown, N.J./Bordentown Regional) finished 3-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored, while sophomore third baseman Levi Krause (East Berlin, Pa./Spring Grove) went 2-for-3 with a solo homer, three RBI and three runs scored. Junior center fielder Danny McGrath (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) posted two hits and two RBI and sophomore second baseman Garrett Brooks (Connellsville, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) tallied two hits and scored twice.

The Vulcans took a 1-0 lead in the third on a solo homer by Krause before scoring five runs in the fourth. Krause drew a bases-loaded walk with one out before Fennell followed with a grand slam, his seventh homer of the year.

In the fifth, Cal U batted around and scored four runs on five singles and two walks. Zackman delivered a bases-loaded single before Fennell and McGrath later posted back-to-back, two-run singles. Sophomore right fielder Chris Wastchak (Peters Twp., Pa./Peters Township) then lined an RBI single to stretch the lead to 12-0. The Vulcans scored the final run of the game in the sixth when Krause collected a two-out RBI single to centerfield.

Gannon starter David Cricks (3-2) was saddled with the loss after being roughed up for nine runs (all earned) on eight hits and four walks in 4.1 innings (94 pitches).

In Game 1, the Vulcans scored six runs in the top of the second and later lead 9-2 before the Golden Knights posted five runs (four unearned) in the seventh. Fennell finished 3-for-5 with two RBI and one run scored, while McGrath went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Freshman designated hitter Kristian Webb (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair) collected two hits, including a solo homer, and freshman right fielder Eric Fairman (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) posted a pair of RBI and runs scored.

Gannon took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first before Cal U answered with six runs in the second. Webb led off the inning with a solo homer before sophomore third baseman Austin Logan (Beaver, Pa./Beaver) drew a bases-loaded walk. Fairman followed with a two-run double before the Vulcans scored two more runs on back-to-back sacrifice flies.

In the fourth, Fennell lined an RBI triple before scoring on a sacrifice fly. The Vulcans then loaded the bases on a single, double and hit by pitch before Brooks drew a bases-loaded walk, 9-1. Gannon scored one run in the fifth following back-to-back, two-out hits before adding five runs in the seventh.

The Golden Knights opened the seventh with a double and single before loading the bases on a two-out error and walk. Following a pitching change, Gannon cut the deficit to 9-5 on a two-run single before later collecting back-to-back RBI singles. After another pitching change, the Vulcans induced a ground-out to close out the victory.

Senior Jack Dennis (Toronto, Ontario/Birchmount Park) improved to 4-2 this year after allowing six runs (four earned) on seven hits and four walks in 6.1 innings (128 pitches). Sophomore Matt Carter (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler) registered his fourth save of the season after posting the final out of the game. Gannon starter Aaron Jackson (4-1) suffered the loss after yielding nine runs (all earned) on seven hits and five walks in 4.0 innings (86 pitches).

Cal U continues its weekend divisional series with Gannon tomorrow, Saturday, April 2, with a doubleheader at CONSOL Energy Park in Washington, Pennsylvania, at 1 p.m.