WASHINGTON, Pa. (April 8) – Junior third baseman
Levi Krause (East Berlin, Pa./Spring Grove) became the first player with three homers in a game since 2003, as the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team claimed a doubleheader split against Seton Hill in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action on Saturday afternoon, falling 5-2 in Game 1 before posting a 9-4 victory in Game 2.
With the split, the Vulcans stand at 12-12 overall with a 6-4 mark in league play. Meanwhile, the Griffins hold a 17-11 record this season behind a 4-6 mark in divisional action.
Krause registered three homers (grand slam, two solo) and six RBI in Game 2 on Saturday. He is the first player since
Bryan Hartung, who holds the all-time school record for homers, in 2003 to tally three homers in a game. Krause leads the team with six homers this season after entering the year with seven homers in nearly 200 career at-bats.
In Game 1, Seton Hill earned a 5-2 victory despite leaving nine runners on base, including six in scoring position. The Griffins took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second on a sacrifice fly before stretching the lead to 3-0 with a two-out double in the third. Seton Hill then executed a delayed double steal in the top of the fourth before sophomore catcher
Kristian Webb (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair) belted a two-run homer, his second of the year, in the bottom of the inning, 4-2. The Griffins added an insurance run in the sixth with a two-out, bases-loaded single.
Junior
Carter Krick (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) was saddled with the loss after surrendering five runs (all earned) on seven hits, four walks and three hit by pitch in 5.2 innings (116 pitches). Seton Hill junior Perry DellaValle (2-0) earned the complete-game victory by yielding two runs (all earned) on five hits with no walks over 7.0 innings (85 pitches).
In Game 2, four different players collected multi-hit games with Krause pacing the team with three hits, six RBI and three runs scored. Senior center fielder
Taylor Zackman (Bordentown, N.J./Bordentown Regional) went 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored, while junior catcher
Andrew Grace (Moon Twp., Pa./Moon) and Webb both posted two hits and one run scored.
Cal U took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a solo homer by Krause. The Griffins countered with two runs in the second before the Vulcans answered with six runs in the bottom of the inning. Grace led off the second with a double and scored on an RBI single by junior shortstop
Austin Logan (Beaver, Pa./Beaver). The Vulcans then loaded the bases on a single and two walks before Krause belted his second grand slam of the season. Junior right fielder
Chris Wastchak (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) later lined a solo homer to right field, his third of the season.
In the third, the Griffins cut the deficit to 7-4 with a two-run homer by left fielder Adam Ferita before the Vulcans responded with one run in both the fourth and fifth. Zackman delivered a bases-loaded RBI single in the fourth before Krause tallied a solo homer in the fifth.
Redshirt senior
Andre Jones (New Castle, Pa./Union) improved to 1-1 this season after allowing four runs (all earned) on five hits, four walks and three hit by pitch in 5.0-plus innings (100 pitches). Senior
Joe Yourgal (Millersville, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) worked 2.0 shutout innings of relief in the victory. Seton Hill starter Zach Martinelli (3-3) suffered the loss after being roughed up for eight runs (all earned) on 11 hits and three walks in 3.2 innings (84 pitches).
Cal U continues its series with Seton Hill tomorrow, Sunday, April 9, with a doubleheader in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, at 1 p.m.
