WASHINGTON, Pa. (April 21) – Head coach Mike Conte reached the 600-win mark on Saturday afternoon, as the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team swept a doubleheader against Gannon at Wild Things Park in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play, claiming an 8-5 victory in Game 1 before earning a 9-0 shutout victory in Game 2. 

With the sweep, the Vulcans improve to 20-17 on the season with a 9-11 record in league play. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights fall to 23-14 overall behind a 12-8 mark in conference play. Cal U sits in fifth place in the divisional standings, trailing Gannon and Seton Hill by three games for the final playoff spot in the PSAC Tournament. 

Conte is one of four active head coaches in PSAC history, and 35th active head coach in NCAA Division II, to reach the 600-win milestone. Already the all-time winningest coach in program history, he becomes the first Cal U head coach of a men's sport to total at least 600 career victories. Conte has posted a 601-437 (.579) in his 22 years as a head coach and has been selected the PSAC West Coach of the Year seven times. 

In Game 1, Cal U scored the initial run of the contest in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead. Senior second baseman Garrett Brooks (Connellsville, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) notched a one-out single up the middle before advancing to third on a failed pickoff attempt. A ground-out held Brooks on third before back-to-back walks loaded the bases. Junior left fielder Ben Maudie (Jackson, Mo./Jackson) drew a bases-loaded walk on a full count to score Brooks from third. The Vulcans stranded the remaining runners as the inning ended on a strikeout. Cal U extended its lead in the second with three runs on four hits after seniors Danny McGrath (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) and Austin Logan (Beaver, Pa./Beaver) reached on back-to-back infield singles. Brooks delivered an RBI single to center field to score McGrath before Logan and Brooks advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. Senior third baseman Levi Krause (East Berlin, Pa./Spring Grove) then laced a two-run single up the middle to put the Vulcans ahead 4-0. 

Both teams went scoreless in the third inning before the Golden Knights cut into the deficit with an RBI single in the top of the fourth, 4-1. Cal U responded with an RBI ground-rule double from senior designated hitter Chris Wastchak (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) in the bottom of the inning. Gannon again trimmed the deficit in the top of the fifth on an RBI single through the right side before the Vulcans added three runs in the bottom half. Maudie led off the inning with a single before advancing to third on a stolen base and a throwing error. Redshirt freshman catcher Bill Hitman (Norristown, Pa./Pope John Paul II) drew a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch before junior left fielder Nico Marchetti (Laurel, Md./St. Vincent Pallotti) hit into a fielder's choice which resulted in all runners being safe after Maudie made it back to third during a rundown. Logan then scored a run on a fielder's choice before Brooks registered a two-run double to give Cal U an 8-2 lead. The Golden Knights responded with two runs on three hits in the sixth, but the Vulcans limited the damage by leaving the bases loaded, 8-4. Cal U went down in order in the bottom half of the sixth before catcher Elijah Quiceno belted a solo homer to cut the deficit to 8-5. 

Junior starter Tyler Eritz (Oakdale, Pa./West Allegheny) improved to 3-1 on the season after yielding two runs (one earned) on five hits with one walk over 5.0 innings (97 pitches). Gannon starter freshman Deven Judy was saddled with the loss (3-2) after allowing four runs (all earned) on five hits with four walks and four strikeouts in 3.0 innings (83 pitches). 

Brooks finished 3-for-3 with three RBI and three runs scored, while Krause recorded one hit and two RBI in Game 1. 

In Game 2, four different players recorded multiple hits with junior first baseman Eric Fairman (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) recording a game-high three hits and scoring one run, while Maudie finished 2-for-3 with a two-run homer, two runs scored and one walk. Logan registered two hits, two RBI and one run scored and McGrath went 2-for-2 with one walk. 

The Vulcans jumped out to an early 1-0 lead with a solo homer to center field from Brooks, his first of the season. In the bottom of the second, Cal U extended its lead with five runs on five hits after Fairman led off with a double to left center. Maudie then launched a two-run homer to center field, his fourth of the year, as the Vulcans took a 3-0 lead. After a strikeout, redshirt senior Bobby Thompson (Blairsville, Pa/ Blairsville) belted a solo homer to right field, his third of the season, before back-to-back singles from McGrath and Logan. The base runners advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch before a rundown on a fielder's choice forced McGrath out at home. Krause then reached base on a throwing error from the shortstop scoring two runs, 6-0. Cal U added three more runs in the bottom of the third to take a 9-0 advantage. Maudie drew a walk and stole second after a failed pickoff attempt before scoring on a throwing error by the second baseman. After a pair of walks, Logan notched a two-run single through the left side. 

Senior starter Carter Krick (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) earned his first career complete-game shutout, scattering two hits and two walks with five strikeouts over 7.0 innings (78 pitches). He forced nine ground-outs and five fly-outs, while not allowing a runner to reach third base in the contest. Golden Knight redshirt senior Ryan Vargo suffered the loss (1-1) after being roughed up for six runs (four earned) on six hits with two strikeouts in 1.1 innings. 

Cal U returns to action Wednesday, April 25, when it faces West Liberty for a non-conference, nine-inning contest in Washington, Pennsylvania, at Wild Things Park at 7:30 p.m.