WASHINGTON, Pa. (Feb. 28) – The California University of Pennsylvania baseball team secured a doubleheader sweep against Davis & Elkins on Wednesday afternoon, completing a four-run comeback with a walk-off sacrifice fly in extra innings in a 9-8 victory in Game 1 and finishing with 12 hits in a 19-6 win in Game 2 at Wild Things Park. 

With the win, the Vulcans extend their winning streak to five games and improve to 5-2 overall this season after playing three opponents from the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC). Cal U scored 19 runs in the Game 2, which is the highest run total in a game since the 2013 campaign when it finished with 22 runs at Alderson-Broaddus. Meanwhile, the Senators are now on a six-game skid and fall to 2-11 on the year. 

In Game 1, Cal U scored five runs on four hits in the bottom of the sixth inning to take an 8-7 lead before Davis & Elkins tied the game in the seventh to send it to extra innings. After a double from senior right fielder Chris Wastchak (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) to start the bottom of the eighth and a wild pitch that advanced the pinch runner to third, the Vulcans notched the game-winning sacrifice fly from junior center fielder Ben Maudie (Jackson, Mo./Jackson) to earn a 9-8 win. Wastchak went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer and five RBI, while senior third baseman Levi Krause (East Berlin, Pa./Spring Grove) finished 2-for-3 with two RBI, two runs scored and two walks. Redshirt freshman pitcher Richie Serignese (New Castle, Pa./Neshannock) allowed one run in 2.0 innings of relief to secure the win after forcing four fly-outs and two ground-outs. 

The Senators opened an early two-run advantage in the first on a sacrifice fly and a pair of doubles before the Vulcans escaped the inning with two left on base. Cal U cut into the deficit in the bottom half of the first on a fielder's choice RBI from Wastchak to trail 2-1 before both teams went scoreless in the second inning. Davis & Elkins tallied five more runs in the third before a triple by Krause in the bottom of the inning drove in two runs to cut the deficit to 7-3. The Vulcans attempted to trim the gap in the fourth and fifth frames, but left two runners on base in each inning. Cal U overcame a four-run deficit in the bottom of the sixth inning by totaling five runs on four hits. Redshirt freshman pinch hitter Bill Hitman (Norristown, Pa./Pope John Paul II) crossed the plate first after advancing home on a wild pitch before Krause registered a two-run single to cut the lead to one run. Wastchak then belted a two-run homer to right field, as the Vulcans took an 8-7 advantage. The Senators answered in the seventh to send the contest to extra innings. Serignese went three-up, three-down in the eighth and Wastchak began the bottom half of the inning with a double. Junior pinch runner Nico Marchetti entered the game for Wastchak and advanced to third on a wild pitch. The contest concluded with a walk-off sacrifice fly from Maudie to take a 9-8 victory in Game 1.

Senior Neil Dudley (Odenton, Md./Chesapeake) earned the no-decision after working 2.1 innings in the start. Classmate Carter Krick (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) tossed 3.0 scoreless innings of relief while making his season debut on the mound. Senator sophomore Max Larimore was saddled with the loss after surrendering one run in 1.0 inning of work.

In Game 2, Davis & Elkins once again started quickly by registering three runs in the opening inning. Cal U countered with six runs on three hits after starting the first with back-to-back walks and a hit by pitch. Junior designated hitter Kristian Webb (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair) posted two RBI on a single to left field and advanced to second on an error before Krause scored to tie the game. Hitman collected an RBI single to give the Vulcans the lead before junior first baseman Thomas Chisam (Williamsburg, Va./Walsingham Academy) notched two runs on a single to left field. Cal U batted through the order and registered another six runs to extended the lead to 12-3 in the second inning. Krause sent a double down the left field line to race across two runs before Wastchak followed with an RBI double. A walk and a hit by pitch loaded the bases for Hitman, who plated one run on a double play. Back-to-back walks once again loaded the bases and senior shortstop Austin Logan (Beaver, Pa./Beaver) delivered a two-run single. In the third inning, Davis & Elkins responded with one run before Webb collected an RBI on a sacrifice fly in foul territory. Both teams went scoreless in the fourth and the Vulcans stretched their lead with three runs in the fifth. Krause posted a triple to right field to recorded two RBI and Wastchak registered an RBI single in the next at-bat. After the Senators notched a run in the top of the sixth, Cal U scored another three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Freshman third baseman Louden Conte (California, Pa./California) tallied an RBI single before sophomore first baseman Corey Fogle (Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville) registered a two-run double to extend the lead. In the seventh inning, sophomore John Bowser (Pittsburgh, Pa./Kiski) finished the contest with 1.0 inning of relief to earn a 19-6 win. 

Junior Tyler Eritz (Oakdale, Pa./West Allegheny) earned the win in the start after allowing four runs (one earned) in 4.0 innings with two strikeouts. Redshirt senior Bobby Thompson ( Blairsville, Pa./Blairsville) tossed 2.0 innings of relief, scattering four hits with two strikeouts. Davis & Elkins sophomore starter Brent McMillion suffered the loss after surrendering six runs in 0.1 inning of work. 

In Game 2, Krause went 2-for-3 with four RBI, four runs scored, one walk and one steal, while Wastchak finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored. Logan went 2-for-2 with two RBI, two runs scored and one walk, plus Webb finished with three RBI and two runs scored. 

Cal U returns to action Saturday, March 3, when it hosts West Liberty for a doubleheader at Wild Things Park in Washington, Pennsylvania, at 1 p.m.