WASHINGTON, Pa. (April 13) – The Vulcans were swept in the opening doubleheader of their series versus Seton Hill on Friday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action, suffering a 15-3 loss in Game 1 and a 7-2 loss in Game 2 at Wild Things Park.

With the losses, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team drops to 18-13 overall behind a 7-7 record in league play. Meanwhile, the Griffins improve to 13-16 on the season with a 7-7 mark in conference play. The two teams are now tied for the final spot in the PSAC Tournament heading into the backend of the divisional schedule.

In Game 1, Seton Hill scored seven runs (two earned) on three hits in the top of the first to take an early 7-0 lead. The initial two batters of the contest reached base on a double, a walk and a fielding error before an RBI single delivered the first run of the game. A bases-loaded walk registered the final earned run of the inning before the Griffins did most of their damage on a bases-clearing double to right-center, 7-0. 

The Vulcans looked to answer in the bottom half of inning after a leadoff single from senior shortstop Austin Logan (Beaver, Pa./Beaver). A ground-out to first base allowed Logan to move to second before back-to-back outs stranded Logan in scoring position. After a pitching change, Seton Hill extended its lead in the second on an RBI single before Cal U left junior catcher Kristian Webb (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair) on base after a two-out double down the left-field line. The Griffins managed to score another run in the top of the third on an RBI double to make it a 9-0 advantage. The Vulcans looked to answer in the bottom half of the inning after a pair of singles from Logan and senior second baseman Garrett Brooks (Connellsville, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) but stranded the runners on consecutive outs to close out the third. 

Seton Hill extended its lead to 14-0 in the top of the fourth with five runs on six hits, highlighted by a ground-rule double down the left-field line and a two-run single up the middle. Cal U went scoreless in the fourth before the Griffins added an insurance run on a double to right-center, 15-0. The Vulcans broke the shutout in the bottom of the sixth after leading off the inning with a double from redshirt senior left fielder Bobby Thompson (Blairsville, Pa./Blairsville). A hit by pitch and a double-play allowed Thompson to advance to third base before scoring on a wild pitch. The Griffins were retired in order in the top of the seventh, while Cal U scored two runs in the bottom of the inning. Brooks notched an RBI double before Thompson recorded a sacrifice fly, 15-3.

Senior starter Carter Krick (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) suffered the loss (2-3) after being roughed up for seven runs (two earned) on three hits with four walks over 1.0 inning. Sophomore John Bowser (Pittsburgh, Pa./Kiski) scattered two hits in 3.0 innings of scoreless relief. Seton Hill starter Perry Dellavalle improved to 3-5 this season after surrendering four hits and recording five strikeouts in 5.0 scoreless innings (89 pitches).

Logan and Brooks both recorded two hits in the contest, while the Vulcans left six runners in scoring position. 

In Game 2, the Griffins once again jumped out to early lead highlight by a pair of home runs in the top of the first inning. First baseman Chris Law belted a solo homer to right field to score the initial run of the game before third baseman Tom McCarthy launched a two-run homer down the left-field line to take a 3-0 lead. Cal U nearly answered in the bottom of the second after retiring Seton Hill in order in the top half of the inning. Junior first baseman Eric Fairman (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a stolen base. Webb then delivered a single up the middle to put runners on the corners. A line-out to the third baseman doubled off Fairman before the Vulcans left two on base to close the inning. The Griffins extended their lead to 5-0 on a two-run home run from designated hitter Mark Colella in the third. 

Both teams went scoreless in the fourth inning before Cal U cut the deficit to 5-1 in the bottom of the fifth. Logan started the inning with a single before senior third baseman Levi Krause (East Berlin, Pa./Spring Grove) reached on an infield single with one out. Senior designated hitter Chris Wastchak (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) notched a fielder's choice to force Krause out a second and move Logan to third. Wastchak stole second and a throwing error by the catcher allowed Logan to score. Seton Hill countered with an RBI triple to left center to extend the lead in the top of the sixth. Fairman helped Cal U respond in the bottom half of inning with a triple before scoring on a wild pitch to trim the deficit to 6-2. In the seventh, the Griffins scored the final run on an RBI single before the Vulcans were retired in order in the bottom of the inning. 

Sophomore starter Nick Riggle (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks) was saddled with the loss (3-3) after allowing six runs (all earned) on seven hits with six strikeouts over 5.2 innings (91 pitches). Griffin starter Patrick Monteverde earned the win (2-2) after yielding two runs (both earned) on seven hits with four strikeouts in 5.0 innings (104 pitches). 

Krause finished 2-for-4 with a pair of singles, while Fairman registered two hits and one run scored in Game 2. 

The Vulcans return to action tomorrow, Saturday, April 14, when they continue their series with Seton Hill with a doubleheader in nearby Greensburg, Pennsylvania, with a start time of 12:30 p.m.