WASHINGTON, Pa. (April 8) – The Vulcans scored 21 runs on 18 hits and registered 10 stolen bases in a doubleheader sweep against Clarion on Sunday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play, posting a 13-6 victory in Game 1 before claiming an 8-1 win in Game 2 at Wild Things Park.

With the sweep, the California University of University of Pennsylvania baseball team improves to 16-11 overall behind a 7-5 mark in league action. Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles drop to 7-20 this season with a 2-10 record in conference play.

In Game 1, Cal U featured five players with multiple hits, as senior third baseman Levi Krause (East Berlin, Pa./Spring Grove) finished 2-for-3, including a three-run homer, with four RBI, three runs scored, one walk and one stolen base. Junior designated hitter Thomas Chisam (Williamsburg, Va./Walsingham Academy) registered two hits, two RBI, one run scored and one walk, while senior second baseman Garrett Brooks (Connellsville, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Redshirt senior left fielder Bobby Thompson  (Blairsville, Pa./Blairsville) and junior first baseman Eric Fairman (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) both posted two hits, one RBI and two runs scored on Saturday. 

Clarion scored the initial run of the contest after a baserunner stole third and scored on a throwing error in the top of the first. The Vulcans answered in the bottom of the inning with three runs on four hits to claim the lead. Brooks registered a one-out single to left field before advancing to third on a wild pitch and a throwing error from the catcher. Krause then notched an RBI double down the left-field line to tie the game at 1-1 before advancing to third on a wild pitch. Senior right fielder Chris Wastchak (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) recorded an RBI on a ground-out to the shortstop to give Cal U a 2-1 advantage. Thompson followed with a double to left center before Fairman recorded an RBI single to right center, 3-1. 

After a scoreless second inning, the Golden Eagles responded with a run-scoring single but stranded two runners on base in the top of the third. The Vulcans exploded for nine runs on seven hits in the bottom half of the inning while batting through the lineup. The bottom of the third was highlighted by a two-run double to right field from Chisam followed by a two-run single from senior shortstop Austin Logan (Beaver, Pa./Beaver). Krause then on his second time through the order belted a three-run homer to left field, his fourth of the season, before Wastchak delivered a solo homer, his sixth of the year, giving the Vulcans a 12-1 lead. Clarion responded in the fifth with three runs to cut the deficit to 12-5 after both teams went scoreless in the fourth inning. The Golden Eagles added one run in the top of the sixth before junior catcher Kristian Webb (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair) notched an RBI single in the bottom half of the inning to extend the Vulcans lead to 13-6. 

Sophomore starter Anthony Winkler (South Park, Pa./South Park) improved to 3-1 this season after yielding five runs (three earned) on six hits with five strikeouts over 4.2 innings (81 pitches). Junior Tyler Eritz (Oakdale, Pa./West Allegheny) tossed 2.1 innings of relief with three strikeouts and allowed one run (earned) on three hits. Golden Eagle junior Branden Schlick suffered the loss (1-1) after being roughed up for eight runs (all earned) on seven hits with three walks in 2.1 innings (61 pitches).

In Game 2, freshman starter Hunter Robinson (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central) earned his first collegiate complete-game victory (3-2) after yielding one run (earned) on four hits with three strikeouts in 7.0 innings (98 pitches). Clarion senior Chance Miranda was saddled with the loss (0-4) after allowing five runs (all earned) on two hits with three walks over 4.2 innings (68 pitches). 

The Golden Eagles once again opened up an early 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly in the first before Cal U countered with four runs in the bottom half of the inning. After recording the initial two outs of the inning, Krause reached base on a walk before a single from Wastchak put runners on corners. After loading the bases on a walk, Fairman launched a grand slam to left center, his fourth homer of the season, to give the Vulcans a 4-1 lead. Both teams went scoreless over the next three innings and combined for just two runners left on base. Cal U extended its lead in the fifth after Logan stole home before adding three insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. Junior center fielder Ben Maudie (Jackson, Mo./Jackson) delivered a two-run double down the left-field line before Thompson posted an RBI single to put the Vulcans ahead 8-1.

Fairman finished with a grand slam, two runs scored and one steal, while Maudie registered one hit, two RBI, one run scored and one stolen base.

Cal U registered 20 steals in the four-game series with the Golden Eagles and had seven different players record a stolen base in Game 2. 

The Vulcans return to action on Tuesday, April 10, when they travel to face Salem for a non-conference doubleheader at 1 p.m.