WASHINGTON, Pa. (April 8) – Led by a six-run sixth inning in Game 1, the Vulcans earned a doubleheader sweep over Slippery Rock in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play at CONSOL Energy Park on Friday afternoon, winning 7-3 and 6-2.
With the sweep, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team improves to 18-12 overall and remains tied for first place in the divisional standings with an 11-3 league mark. Meanwhile, Slippery Rock falls to 7-26 this season behind a 2-12 conference record.
In Game 1, The Rock took a 3-1 lead in the sixth on a three-run homer by first baseman Carson Kessler before the Vulcans answered with six runs in the bottom of the inning. Freshman designated hitter
Kristian Webb (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair) reached on a hit by pitch and advanced to third on a single before scoring on a fielder's choice. Cal U later loaded the bases with a single and walk before junior right fielder
Taylor Zackman (Bordentown, N.J./Bordentown Regional) delivered a two-run single through the right side. Senior center fielder
Mick Fennell (Butler, Pa./Butler) followed with a two-run triple before scoring on a single by junior shortstop
Danny McGrath (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional).
Slippery Rock then loaded the bases in the seventh with back-to-back singles and a walk, all with one out, before Cal U made its second pitching change of the inning. Junior
Bobby Thompson (Blairsville, Pa./Blairsville) then induced a game-ending double play to the first batter he faced to record the save.
Sophomore second baseman
Garrett Brooks (Connellsville, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) went 3-for-3 with one run scored, while Fennell finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored. McGrath reached base in all four plate appearances with two singles and two walks.
Senior
Jack Dennis (Toronto, Ontario/Birchmount Park) improved to 5-2 this season after allowing three runs (all earned) on six hits and two walks in 6.0 innings (102 pitches). He also set a season high with eight strikeouts while eclipsing the 200-inning mark for his career. Slippery Rock starter Jon Anderson (2-5) was saddled with the loss after surrendering seven runs (all earned) on 10 hits and four walks in 5.1 innings (89 pitches).
In Game 2, Cal U used three different pitchers and forced Slippery Rock to leave nine runners on base, including five in scoring position. Fennell won his fourth-straight start to improve to 5-1 this year after yielding one run (earned) on five hits and one walk in 4.0 innings (55 pitches). Sophomore
Carter Krick (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) worked 2.0 innings of relief, while junior
Caleb Catherine (South Williamsport, Pa./South Williamsport) tossed 1.0 inning of scoreless relief. Rock starter Alex Pantuso suffered the loss after allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits and three walks in 6.0 innings (93 pitches).
The Vulcans took a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI single by sophomore right fielder
Chris Wastchak (Peters Twp., Pa./Peters Township). Slippery Rock tied the score in top of the third before Cal U answered in the bottom of the inning with a two-run homer by Wastchak, his third of the year.
In the fifth, the Vulcans added to their lead with a three-run homer by junior first baseman
Joe Yourgal (Millersville, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) after McGrath started the rally by reaching on a throwing error. The Rock cut the deficit to 6-2 in the sixth before stranding a runner on third. In the seventh, Slippery Rock had runners on first and second with one out before Catherine induced a double play to end the game.
Wastchak paced the offense by going 3-for-3 with a two-run homer, three RBI and two runs scored. Fennell drew a pair of walks and scored twice in the victory.
Cal U continues its weekend series on Sunday, April 10, when it travels to play a doubleheader at Slippery Rock starting at 1 p.m.
