WASHINGTON, Pa. (May 4) – The California University of Pennsylvania baseball team posted a Senior Day doubleheader sweep over IUP on Friday afternoon at Wild Things Park in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action, claiming a 7-1 win in Game 1 before a 5-3 victory in Game 2.

With the sweep, the Vulcans improve to 25-19 on the season behind a 13-13 record in league play. Cal U registered a 17-7 record at home this year, which are the most home victories since the 2014 campaign. Meanwhile, the Crimson Hawks fall to 15-27 overall with a 10-16 mark in conference action. The current PSAC Tournament scenario for the Vulcans is they need to complete the series sweep at IUP, while Seton Hill needs to drop its final three games versus Clarion in a rare tripleheader tomorrow to secure the final playoff spot.

In Game 1, sophomore starter Nick Riggle (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks) improved to 4-5 on the season after tossing his fourth complete game of the year while matching a season high with six strikeouts. He yielded one run (earned) on six hits with one walk over 7.0 innings (96 pitches). IUP junior Colin Claus was saddled with the loss (3-5) after surrendering five runs (all earned) on five hits with four walks in 4.1 innings (96 pitches). 

The Vulcans boasted four players with multiple hits, as senior right fielder Chris Wastchak (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) finished 2-for-2, including a two-run homer, and tallied four RBI, two runs scored and one walk. Junior left fielder Ben Maudie  (Jackson, Mo./Jackson) notched two hits, two RBI and three stolen bases, while senior third baseman Levi Krause (East Berlin, Pa./Spring Grove) went 2-for-4, including a solo homer, and added two runs scored and one stolen base. Senior shortstop Austin Logan (Beaver, Pa./Beaver) recorded two hits and two steals against the Crimson Hawks.

Both teams went scoreless through the initial two innings of the contest before Cal U scored three runs on three hits in the bottom of the third. Logan led off the inning with a single up the middle before advancing to second on a stolen base. With two outs, Wastchak launched a two-run homer, his eighth of the season, as the Vulcans claimed the early advantage. Krause then went back-to-back belting a solo homer, his team-leading ninth of the year, to take a 3-0 lead in the third. He is now in sole possession of fourth place all-time in school history with 25 home runs. 

After a scoreless fourth inning, Cal U tallied three runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 6-0 lead. Senior second baseman Garrett Brooks (Connellsville, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) started the inning with a walk before advancing to second on a stolen base. With one out, Wastchak delivered an RBI single to right field to score Brooks. After a pitching change, Krause registered a single before a fly-out moved Wastchak to third base. Krause moved into scoring position on a steal before Maudie recorded a two-run single through the left side. In the top of the sixth, IUP avoided the shutout with a solo homer by center fielder Chris Eisel to trim the deficit to 6-1. The Vulcans scored an insurance run in the bottom half of the inning on a sacrifice fly from Wastchak to stretch the lead to 7-1. 

In Game 2, Cal U once again claimed the early lead on an RBI single from senior center fielder Danny McGrath (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) in the bottom of the second. The Crimson Hawks took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third after scoring a pair of unearned runs on a two-run single to center field. In the bottom of third, the Vulcans scored four runs on four hits to reclaim a 5-2 advantage. Logan and Maudie ledoff the inning with a pair of doubles before a throwing error from the third baseman allowed Logan to score from third. After loading the bases on a walk, Krause registered a one-run single to right field to extend the lead. Redshirt senior designated hitter Bobby Thompson (Blairsville, Pa./Blairsville) then laced a two-run single up the middle. In the top of fourth, IUP cut the deficit on a solo homer from left fielder Chris Calliari, 5-3. 

Freshman starter Hunter Robinson (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central) earned the win (5-4) after allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits with five strikeouts over 6.0 innings (103 pitches). Senior Neil Dudley (Odenton, Md./Chesapeake) recorded his first career save after tossing 1.0 inning of scoreless relief with one hit and one strikeout. Crimson Hawk sophomore JP Pellis suffered the loss (1-2) after being roughed up for five runs (four earned) on six hits with two walks in 2.0-plus innings (52 pitches). 

Thompson paced the offense by going 3-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored in Game 2. 

The Vulcans conclude the regular season tomorrow, Saturday, May 5, when they travel to IUP to play at doubleheader, starting at 1 p.m.