GREENSBURG, Pa. (April 14) – The California University of Pennsylvania baseball team was swept in the season series with Seton Hill on Saturday afternoon after dropping both games of a road doubleheader in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play, falling 2-0 in Game 1 before a 7-4 loss in Game 2. 

With the losses, the Vulcans drop to 18-15 on the season with a 7-9 mark in league action. Meanwhile, the Griffins improve to 15-16 overall behind a 9-7 record in conference play. 

In Game 2, Cal U attempted to rally from a 7-2 deficit in the top of the seventh inning. Redshirt freshman catcher Bill Hitman (Norristown, Pa/Pope John Paul II) drew a walk with one out before advancing to second on a single from junior left fielder Thomas Chisam (Williamsburg, Va./Walsingham Academy). The bases were loaded after senior second baseman Garrett Brooks (Connellsville, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) was hit by a pitch before fellow senior Chris Wastchak (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs to score Hitman from third. Junior designated hitter Kristian Webb (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair) then drew another walk to cut the deficit to 7-4, while putting the tying run on first base. The game ended on a line-out to left field stranding three runners on base.

Seton Hill scored the initial run of the game on a RBI single after recording a double down the left-field line to take a 1-0 lead. The Vulcans looked to answer in the top of the second after junior first baseman Eric Fairman (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) drew a walk with two outs before moving to second on a stolen base. Another walk put a runner on first before the inning ended on a ground-out to the first baseman. Cal U cut the deficit to 3-2 in the top of the third after a leadoff single to center field from Hitman. A ground-out advanced Hitman to second before he scored on an RBI single to left center by Brooks. A stolen base moved Brooks to second before Wastchak laced an RBI single with two outs through the left side. The Griffins extended their lead in the bottom of the fourth with four runs on four hits. The inning was highlighted by a two-run single with the bases loaded before extending the lead with two runs later in the inning, 7-2. Both sides went scoreless through the fifth and sixth inning, while combining for just one hit during that stretch.

Freshman starter Hunter Robinson (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central) was saddled with the loss (3-3) after surrendering six runs (four earned) on eight hits with four strikeouts over 3.1 innings (71 pitches). Sophomore Bradyn Kail (Baltimore, Md./Loyola Blakefield) tossed 2.2 innings of relief, yielding one run (unearned) on three hits. Seton Hill starter Michael Bryja improved to 2-2 on the season after allowing two runs (both earned) on five hits with three strikeouts in 5.1 innings (81 pitches). Sophomore Kenny Wells earned the save after recording the final out of the contest. 

Chisam finished 2-for-4 at the plate, while Wastchak notched one hit, two RBI and two walks in Game 2.

In Game 1, both teams went down in order in the first inning before Seton Hill scored the opening run of the contest in the bottom of the second. Cal U recorded the initial two outs of the inning before a fielding error and a stolen base extended the bottom half of the second. Seton Hill then laced a single to center field to take a 1-0 lead. The Vulcans looked to tie the game in the top of the third after a leadoff single from Webb. After a strikeout, junior left fielder Nico Marchetti (Laurel, Md./St. Vincent Pallotti) delivered an infield single to move Webb into scoring position before a double play halted the inning. The Griffins extended their advantage to 2-0 in the bottom of the third on a leadoff solo homer from center fielder Carl Turner. 

In the fourth, Cal U nearly answered after senior third baseman Levi Krause (East Berlin, Pa./Spring Grove) registered a one-out single to left field before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Wastchak then reached on a fielder's choice that resulted in Krause being tagged out in a rundown. Redshirt senior Bobby Thompson (Blairsville, Pa./Blairsville) recorded a single to right field to advance Wastchak to second base before both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. The inning concluded with a strikeout, leaving both players on base in the top of the fourth. Both teams went scoreless over the final two and half innings and were held to a combined three hits. 

Junior starter Tyler Eritz (Oakdale, Pa./West Allegheny) suffered the loss (2-1) after yielding two runs (one earned) on four hits with three strikeouts in a career-high 6.0 innings (99 pitches). Griffin freshman Jared Kollar earned the win (2-3) after scattering five hits with zero walks and five strikeouts over 5.0 scoreless innings (68 pitches). Wells notched the save after tossing 1.0 scoreless inning of relief. 

Cal U returns to PSAC West action on Friday, April 20, when it opens a weekend series at Gannon with a doubleheader at 1 p.m.