BUTLER, Pa. (April 2) – The California University of Pennsylvania baseball team claimed a split of a doubleheader against Clarion in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play on Sunday afternoon at Kelly Automotive Park, suffering a 6-0 loss in Game 1 before earning an 11-3 victory in Game 2.

With the split, the Vulcans move to 9-11 overall with a 5-3 mark after two weekends of divisional action. Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles stand at 7-12 this season behind a 3-5 record in league play.

In Game 1, Cal U was limited to just three hits and was shutout for the third-straight time in the series. The Vulcans drew six walks in the loss and finished the game with eight runners left on base, including one in scoring position in three-straight innings. Redshirt senior first baseman David Marcus (Whitby, Ontario/Father Leo J. Austin) was issued a walk in each of his three plate appearances, while senior center fielder Taylor Zackman (Bordentown, N.J./Bordentown Regional) reached base on a walk and a single.

The Golden Eagles scored one run in both the first and second before stretching the stretching the lead to 4-0 in the third inning. Freshman Jason Downs (Albion, N.Y./Charles D'Amico) retired eight-straight batters after entering as reliever in the third before Clarion loaded the bases to start the sixth. Clarion added to its lead on a sacrifice fly and an RBI single, 6-0. Junior starter Neil Dudley (Odenton, Md./Chesapeake) was saddled with the loss after surrendering four runs (all earned) on seven hits in 2.1 innings. Downs tossed 3.2 innings of relief and allowed two runs (earned) on two hits while recording four strikeouts. Clarion starter Kyler Mellot (3-1) earned the win after scattering two hits and five walks over 5.0 scoreless innings.

In Game 2, Marcus belted a grand slam in the fourth inning and finished with six RBI to move past outfielder Troy Handza (2009-12) for third place all-time in school history with 143 RBI. Junior third baseman Levi Krause (East Berlin, Pa./Spring Grove) went 2-for-3 with three RBI, three runs scored and two walks in the victory. Sophomore designated hitter Thomas Chisam (Williamsburg, Va./Walsingham Academy) scored three runs after drawing three walks from the leadoff spot.

The Vulcans manufactured a run in the top of the first without collecting a hit to snap a stretch of 21-scoreless innings in the series. Chisam led off the game with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch before moving to third on a fly-out by Krause. Marcus then drove in Chisam with a ground-out to the right side of the infield. Cal U loaded the bases with three-straight walks in the second before a called third strike and fly-out ended the inning. Krause started the top of the third with a solo homer, his third of the year, to stretch the lead to 2-0.

In the fourth, junior shortstop Austin Logan (Beaver, Pa./Beaver) and Zackman drew back-to-back walks with one out. Chisam later drew a two-out walk before Krause followed with a bases-loaded walk. Marcus then belted a grand slam, his third homer of the year, to become only the seventh player in school history with 20 career homers (last was Handza in 2012).

Cal U scored on a sacrifice fly in the fifth before Clarion countered with two runs on back-to-back, two-out singles in the bottom of the inning, 8-2. The Vulcans answered with three insurance runs in the top of the sixth on three-straight RBI doubles by Krause, Marcus and junior right fielder Chris Wastchak (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township).

Freshman starter Nick Riggle (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks) earned his first career win after yielding two runs (earned) on three hits and two walks over 5.0 innings (71 pitches). Classmate Anthony Winkler (South Park, Pa./South Park) allowed one run (earned) on two hits and one walk in 2.0 innings of relief. Clarion starter John Finke (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing three runs (earned) on one hit and five walks in 3.1 innings (73 pitches).

The Vulcans return to non-conference play on Tuesday, April 4, when they host a doubleheader against Salem International in Washington, Pennsylvania, at 1 p.m.