WASHINGTON, Pa. (Feb. 23) – The California University of Pennsylvania baseball team claimed a split of a non-conference doubleheader versus Walsh to close the weekend series on Saturday afternoon at Wild Things Park, posting a 7-3 victory in Game 1 before falling 11-8 in Game 2.
 
With the split, the Vulcans move to 3-1 on the season while playing all four games at home. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers stand at 1-3 overall after advancing to the semifinals of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) Tournament last year.
 
In Game 1, senior Tyler Eritz (Oakdale, Pa./West Allegheny) earn the win after yielding one run (earned) on seven hits with a career-high eight strikeouts over 5.0 innings (93 pitches). Sophomore Richie Serignese (New Castle, Pa./Neshannock) closed out the game with 2.0 innings of relief and allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits on Saturday.
 
The Cavaliers scored on a passed ball in the top of the first inning to take an early 1-0 advantage. Cal U answered in the bottom half with two runs on three hits after leadoff hitter and senior center fielder Ben Maudie (Jackson, Mo./Jackson) laced a double to center. Senior designated hitter Thomas Chisam (Willamsburg, Va./Walsingham Academy) followed with a double down the right-field line to tie the contest at 1-1. Senior first baseman Eric Fairman (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) then registered a double down the left-field line to score Chisam to put the Vulcans ahead 2-1.
 
Cal U left a pair of runners on base in the second inning before tallying a run in the third to extend the lead. Senior catcher Kristian Webb (Whitby, Ontario/ Sinclair) drew a walk with two outs before a hit by pitch put runners on first and second. Senior second baseman Nico Marchetti (Laurel, Md./St. Vincent Pallotti) delivered an RBI single to right field to score Webb and give the Vulcans a 3-1 advantage.
 
Walsh left two runners on base in the top of the fourth before Cal U stranded the bases loaded in the bottom half. Eritz escaped a jam in the top of the fifth before the Vulcans totaled four runs on three hits to take a 7-1 lead. Cal U drew two walks to open the inning before a sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position. Freshman shortstop Jacob McCaskey (Tarentum,Pa./Deer Lakes) then belted a three-run homer to left field, his second of the season, to give the Vulcans a 6-1 advantage. Junior transfer left fielder Aaron Previsky (California, Pa./California) followed with a single before advancing to second base on a throwing error. Chisam then laced an RBI double down the right-field line to stretch the lead.
 
Walsh recorded two runs in the top of the seventh inning after a single and double put two runners in scoring position. A throwing error on the next play allowed both runners to score before a line-out and a ground-out secured a Cal U win, 7-3.
 
McCaskey went 2-for-4, including a three-run homer, while Chisam finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored. Previsky went 2-for-2 with one run scored and one walk.
 
In Game 2, Walsh once again struck first after a wild pitch and a throwing error allowed the base runner to score from second in the top of the third inning. Cal U was retired in order over the initial three innings of the contest, including six strikeouts.
 
The Vulcans responded in the bottom of the fourth after starting the inning with a leadoff walk from Maudie. Chisam reached base a fielder's choice, but a throwing error and an interference from the shortstop allowed Maudie to move to third. Fairman then launched a three-run homer off the video board in right field to put Cal U ahead. Two batters later, Marchetti laced a solo homer down the right-field line to extend the advantage to 4-1. Walsh answered in the top of the fifth with three runs on just one hit to tie the contest at 4-4. The Vulcans walked the bases loaded before a single to left field scored a pair of runs for the Cavaliers.
 
Cal U was once again set down in order in the bottom of the fifth before the Vulcans saved a run after Previsky threw out the base runner at home advancing from second. In the bottom of the sixth, Chisam and Fairman opened the inning with singles before loading the bases on a fielding error on a fielder's choice. Sophomore third baseman Louden Conte (California, Pa./California) then belted his second career grand slam off the left-field foul pole to give the Vulcans an 8-4 advantage.
 
The Cavaliers rallied back with seven runs on five hits in the top of the seventh inning, while forcing Cal U to use three different pitchers. Walsh loaded the bases with one out before a pinch-hit double from junior Brenden Spaulding trimmed the deficit to 8-6. The bases would be loaded again following a walk before a single closed the gap to one run. A bases-loaded walk tied the game at 8-8 before redshirt junior Andrew Czech doubled down the left-field line to clear the bases and to give the Cavaliers an 11-8 lead. The Vulcans were unable to comeback despite leaving two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh.
 
McCaskey was saddled with the loss after surrendering five runs (all earned) on two hits with three walks. Freshman starter Dylan Brosky (East Millsboro, Pa./Brownsville) took a no-decision after yielding four runs (all unearned) on four hits with three strikeouts in 5.0 innings. Walsh senior Austin Clark earn the win after tossing 1.0 scoreless inning of relief, while junior Dylan Corsi secured the save in 1.0 inning of relief.

In Game 2, Fairman went 2-for-3, including a three-run homer, and two runs scored. Conte belted a grand slam, while Marchetti posted a solo homer. 
 
The Vulcans return to action on Friday, March 1, when they face Ohio Valley (W.Va.) for a non-conference, nine-inning contest in Washington, Pennsylvania, at Wild Things Park at 2 p.m.