CALIFORNIA (April 29) – The Vulcans clinched a berth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament after splitting a divisional doubleheader against Pitt-Johnstown on Friday evening at CONSOL Energy Park, winning 7-5 before suffering a 9-2 loss.

With the result, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team moves to 25-19 overall behind a 16-10 mark in conference play. The Vulcans secured a berth in the league tournament for the fourth time in five seasons with their seed to be determined tomorrow, Saturday, April 30. Meanwhile, the Mountain Cats move to 17-26 on the year with a 10-16 league record.

In Game 1, Cal U took the lead in the second after batting around. Freshman designated hitter Kristian Webb (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair) led off with a double to left field before junior catcher Joe Yourgal (Millerville, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) earned a walk. Freshman left fielder Eric Fairman ( Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) hit a one-out single through the left side that allowed Webb to score, 1-0. After a single by sophomore third baseman Austin Logan (Beaver, Pa./Beaver) loaded the bases, a sacrifice fly from junior right fielder Bobby Thompson (Blairsville, Pa./Blairsville) increased the lead to 2-0. Senior center fielder Mick Fennell (Butler, Pa./Butler) drew a four-pitch walk to again load the bases before Fairman scored on a wild pitch and junior shortstop Danny McGrath (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) later delivered a two-out, two-run double, 5-0. The Vulcans ended the inning with an RBI single from Webb to take a 6-0 lead.

UPJ cut the deficit in the fourth after back-to-back, two-out RBI singles before leaving two runners on base. The Mountain Cats threatened again in the sixth with a sacrifice fly and an RBI single cut the lead to 7-4. UPJ scored once more in the seventh after a leadoff solo home run to straight-away center field by sophomore Luke Williams, 7-5.

McGrath finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored, while Webb went 2-for-3 with an RBI and one run scored.

Senior Jack Dennis (Toronto, Ontario/Birchmount Park) earned the win to improve to 7-3 after scattering nine hits and allowing five runs (three earned) in 6.0 innings (118 pitches). With the decision, Dennis becomes the fifth pitcher in program history to record 20 career victories (20-7). Sophomore Matt Carter (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler) tallied his fifth save after working 1.0 inning of scoreless relief. UPJ sophomore Shane Supanick (3-2) was saddled with the loss after yielding seven runs (six earned) on six hits and three walks in 2.0 innings (51 pitches).

In Game 2, the Mountain Cats scored in the top of the second on a three-run homer by freshman Luke Smeltz before increasing the lead in the third after scoring twice on a throwing error, 5-0. Cal U answered in the bottom half of the fourth after McGrath scored on a balk. UPJ responded in the fifth by scoring on a passed ball and a throwing error. The Vulcans then cut the deficit to 7-2 in the bottom half of the inning after Thompson reached base on a walk before coming around to score on a double by Fennell. After a pitching change by Cal U, the Mountain Cats took advantage of two wild pitches and extended the lead to 8-2 before adding another run in the seventh.

Sophomore Carter Krick (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) suffered the loss to fall to 3-2 after allowing five runs (four earned) on three hits and four walks in 3.1 innings (68 pitches). UPJ sophomore Nathan Bearer earned the win (2-1) after allowing two runs (both earned) on five hits with five strikeouts in 5.0 innings (84 pitches).

Fennell finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and McGrath also tallied two hits.

Cal U finishes the regular season tomorrow, April 30, with a doubleheader at Pitt-Johnstown beginning at 4:30 p.m.