ERIE, Pa. (April 20) – The Vulcans dropped the opening doubleheader of their series at Gannon on Friday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action, suffering 12-3 loss in Game 1 before a 5-0 loss in Game 2.
With the losses, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team falls to 18-17 overall behind a 7-11 record in league play. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights improve to 23-12 on the season with a 12-6 record in conference action.
In Game 1, senior shortstop Austin Logan (Beaver, Pa./Beaver) led off the contest with single down the left-field line before advancing to third on a ground-out with two outs in the top of the first. Logan was stranded in scoring position to conclude the inning on an unassisted out by the first baseman. Gannon went scoreless in the bottom half of the first before the Vulcans started the top of second inning with a walk. Junior first baseman Eric Fairman (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) then reached base on an error to put runners on first and second. A double play resulted in outs at third and first before a fly-out to center field ended the inning with Fairman stranded in scoring position. The Golden Knights broke the tie in the bottom of the second on an RBI single to take a 1-0 lead.
Cal U went scoreless in the top of the third before Gannon extended its lead with three runs on three hits in the bottom of the inning. Gannon recorded a leadoff single before designated hitter Nate Cardy belted a two-run homer to left field. The Golden Knights added another run on single to hold a 4-0 advantage. The Vulcans went scoreless in the top of the fourth before Gannon put another three runs on the scoreboard in the bottom of the inning. Gannon totaled two runs on a triple before an error on a fly ball allowed a runner to score from third, 7-0. Cal U scored in the top of the fifth on a solo homer from redshirt freshman catcher Bill Hitman (Norristown, Pa./Pope John Paul II) before stranding a pair of runners on base to finish the inning. The Golden Knights went scoreless in the bottom of the fifth before the Vulcans notched two runs in the top of the sixth. Junior center field Nico Marchetti (Laurel, Md./St. Vincent Pallotti) registered a two-run double to left field to trim the deficit to 7-3 before stranding two runners in scoring position. Gannon recorded five runs on six hits in the bottom of the sixth to take a 12-3 lead, highlighted by a three-run homer from third baseman Ian Steighner.
Sophomore starter Nick Riggle (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks) suffered the loss (3-4) after surrendered eight runs (five earned) on nine hits with four strikeouts over 5.0-plus innings (67 pitches). Golden Knight junior Jarod Morrison earned the win after allowing three runs (all earned) on six hits with five strikeouts over 5.2 innings (102 pitches).
Hitman finished 2-for-2 with a solo homer, while Logan went 2-for-3 with a walk in Game 1.
In Game 2, Gannon scored the initial runs of the game on a two-run homer to left center to take the early lead. The Vulcans were retired in order in the top of second before stranding a Golden Knight in scoring position in the bottom of the inning. After back-to-back outs, senior Danny McGrath (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) drew a walk before advancing to second on a stolen base. McGrath was left in scoring position before Gannon added a run in the bottom of the third on an RBI double to left center, 3-0.
Cal U escaped trouble in the bottom of the fourth by leaving the bases loaded before nearly answering in the fifth inning. Hitman laced a one-out double to right center before advancing to third on ground-out. A walk put runners on the corners before a fielder's choice halted the inning. The Golden Knights scored two more runs in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run single to right field to take a 5-0 lead. The Vulcans attempted to snap the shutout in the top of the seventh with a leadoff single from redshirt senior designated hitter Bobby Thompson (Blairsville, Pa./Blairsville) before McGrath put runners on the corners with two outs. A fly-out to left field stranded two runners on base and secured the shutout victory.
Freshman starter Hunter Robinson (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central) was saddled with the loss (3-4) after yielding five runs (all earned) on 11 hits with two strikeouts over 4.2 innings (71 pitches). Gannon starter senior David Cricks earned his first collegiate complete-game shutout (3-1) after scattering five hits with seven strikeouts in 7.0 innings (92 pitches).
The Vulcans return to action tomorrow, Saturday, April 21, when they continue their series with Gannon with a doubleheader in Washington, Pennsylvania, at Wild Things Park at 1 p.m.
