CALIFORNIA (April 15) – The Vulcans posted a doubleheader split against IUP at CONSOL Energy Park in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action on Friday afternoon, claiming a 10-5 victory before suffering a 9-8 loss.

With the split, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team moves to 20-14 overall with a 13-5 mark in league play. Meanwhile, IUP now sits at 16-21 on the year behind an 8-10 record in divisional action.

In Game 1, the Crimson Hawks scored in the top of the second on a solo homer from third baseman Rick Jones. The Vulcans responded with two runs in the bottom half of the inning. Freshman designated hitter Kristian Webb (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair) reached on a throwing error before advancing to second on an error and took third on a wild pitch. Sophomore third baseman Austin Logan (Beaver, Pa./Beaver) hit a one-out double that scored Webb and later scored on a single up the middle by senior left fielder Jared Grove (Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim) to give Cal U a 2-1 lead. IUP tied the score in the fifth before the Vulcans rallied to score three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Sophomore first baseman Chris Wastchak (Peters Twp., Pa./Peters Township) led off the inning with a single before junior catcher Joe Yourgal (Millersville, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) reached on a fielding error that allowed Wastchak to advance to third. Cal U took the lead after a single to left field by sophomore second baseman Garrett Brooks (Connellsville, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) allowed Wastchak to score and Grove followed with a two-run double to increase the lead to 5-2.

The Crimson Hawks tied the game in the sixth after a leadoff double and a one-out single cut the deficit to 5-3. IUP then capitalized on a three-base fielding error that allowed two runs to score to tie the score at 5-5. The Vulcans rallied for a five-run sixth inning to retake the lead after a lead-off single by senior center fielder Mick Fennell (Butler, Pa./Butler) and junior shortstop Danny McGrath (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) drew a walk. Wastchak singled up the middle to score Fennell, before Yourgal doubled to score McGrath and increase the lead, 7-5. Cal U then posted back-to-back singles to make the score 10-5.

Senior Jack Dennis (Toronto, Ontario/Birchmount Park) earned the win to improve to 6-2 after allowing five runs (three earned) on seven hits with seven strikeouts in 7.0 innings (108 pitches). Freshman Brian Albert suffered the loss (1-2) after surrendering five runs (all earned) on five hits with two walks in 1.0 inning of relief for starter Christian McClure.

Logan finished 3-for-4 with three RBI and one run scored, while Wastchak went 3-for-3 with one RBI. Brooks posted two hits, two RBI and two runs scored, while Grove collected two hits and three RBI.

In Game 2, IUP scored in the first inning on an RBI triple and a two-run homer and after a pitching change the Crimson Hawks added another run to the lead, 4-0, before leaving the bases loaded after a second pitching change for the Vulcans. Cal U responded in the third inning with a lead-off single by Fennell before a two-run homer by Wastchak cut the deficit to 4-2. The Vulcans added another run on an RBI double by Brooks that allowed Yourgal to score. Brooks would then score on a single by Logan after an 11-pitch at-bat to tie the game, 4-4.

IUP retook the lead in the fourth after back-to-back, two-out singles and a two-run double made the score 6-4. Fennell led off the bottom half of the fourth with a solo home run to cut the lead to 6-5 before McGrath singled to the left side and stole second. After McGrath took third base on an error, he scored on an RBI single by Wastchak to tie the score at 6-6. The Crimson Hawks responded in the following inning by scoring on a one-out single to retake the lead, 7-6. Cal U took the lead in the sixth after a two-run single by Wastchak, 8-7. IUP then led off the seventh with a double before an error and a wild pitch allowed the runner to tie the game at 8-8. The Vulcans left two runners on base in the bottom half of the seventh to send the game to extra innings. The Crimson Hawks began the eighth inning with a pair of one-out walks on 18 pitches. After a strikeout, a fielding error at third base allowed the eventual game-winning run to score and gave the Crimson Hawks a 9-8 lead.

Junior Caleb Catherine (South Williamsport, Pa./South Williamsport) received the loss (0-1) after surrendering one run (unearned) on no hits with two walks (34 pitches). The Vulcans used five relief pitchers after starter Fennell came out after 1.0 inning, allowing three runs (all earned) on two hits and one walk. Sophomore Dan Sepic earned the victory (4-2) after tossing 5.0 innings of relief and allowing two runs (both earned) on three hits with two strikeouts (73 pitches).

Wastchak went 3-for-5, including a two-run homer, with five RBI and one run scored, while Fennell and Logan both finished 3-for-4 and Fennell scored three times.

Cal U finishes its weekend series when it travels to play a doubleheader at IUP tomorrow, April 16, starting at 1 p.m.