WASHINGTON, Pa. (March 23) – The Vulcans posted a doubleheader sweep over IUP on Saturday afternoon at Wild Things Park, claiming a 3-1 victory in Game 1 before securing a 4-2 win in Game 2 to open Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action.
 
With the sweep, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team extends its winning streak to four games and improve to 14-3 overall with a 2-0 record in league play. Meanwhile, the Crimson Hawks fall to 6-9 this season behind a 2-0 mark in conference action.
 
In Game 1, junior starter Nick Riggle (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks) improved to 3-0 on the season after tossing a 7.0-inning, complete-game victory. He yielded one run (earned) on one hit with zero walks and six strikeouts over 7.0 innings (83 pitches). Riggle has posted a 1.04 ERA over 26.0 innings pitched in four starts, while holding opponents to a .178 batting average this year.
 
The Vulcans retired the side in order in the top of the first before stranding a pair of runners in scoring position in the bottom half of inning. In the top of the second, IUP sophomore Nick Hess belted a solo homer to left field, his fourth of the season, to take an early 1-0 advantage. Cal U threatened again in the bottom of the second, but left runners on the corners after a pop-up ended the inning. After retiring the side in the top of the third, the Vulcans scored two runs to take the lead. Senior second baseman Nico Marchetti (Laurel, Md./St. Vincent Pallotti) led off the frame with a double to right field before senior designated hitter Eric Fairman (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) recorded an RBI single to left-center to tie the contest at 1-1. Fairman advanced to second on a stolen base and moved to third on a ground-out. Sophomore third baseman Louden Conte (California, Pa./California) then drew a walk before stealing second to put a pair of runners in scoring position. Sophomore left fielder Bill Hitman (Norristown, Pa./Pope John Paul II) registered an RBI on a sacrifice fly to right field, as Cal U claimed a 2-1 lead. In the bottom of the fourth, senior center fielder Ben Maudie (Jackson, Mo./Jackson) launched a solo homer to left-center, his team-leading sixth of the season, to give the Vulcans a 3-1 advantage. Riggle surrendered zero hits over the final three innings, retiring the side in order in the seventh to seal the win.
 
Freshman right fielder Patrick Brogan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Our Lady of the Sacred Heart) finished 2-for-3, while Marchetti went 1-for-2 with one run scored and a walk. Fairman finished 1-for-2 with one RBI, one run scored and three stolen bases.
 
In Game 2, the Crimson Hawks once again grabbed the early lead on an RBI double to right-center to take a 1-0 advantage in the top of the first inning. Cal U stranded a pair of runners in the bottom of half of the frame before both teams were retired in order in the second. After a scoreless third and fourth inning, IUP threatened to extend the lead with the bases loaded with one out in the fifth. The Vulcans managed to escape the frame with no damage after an infield fly and a fly-out closed the inning. Cal U ended its scoreless drought with four runs on three hits in the bottom of the fifth. Hitman led off with a single through the left side before junior Aaron Previsky (California, Pa./California) entered the game as a pinch runner. A sacrifice bunt moved Previsky to second before Brogan singled to left-center and moved to second on a stolen base. Freshman shortstop Jacob McCaskey (Tarentum, Pa./Deer Lakes) then drew a walk on a wild pitch, which allowed Previsky to score and moved McCaskey to third, 1-1. Maudie followed with an RBI single to center field to take a 2-1 advantage. Marchetti hit into the a fielder's choice with one out, but a throwing error from the shortstop scored McCaskey and advanced to Maudie to third base, 3-1. Marchetti stole second and Fairman tallied an RBI on a ground-out to stretch the lead to 4-1. In the top of the sixth, the Crimson Hawks tallied a run on a ground-out to cut the deficit to 4-2. IUP stranded runners on the corners in the top of the seventh to close the contest.
 
Hitman finished 1-for-2, while Maudie went 1-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored. Fairman finished 1-of-3 with one RBI and Brogan went 1-for-3 with one run scored.
 
Junior starter Bradyn Kail (Baltimore, Md./Loyola Blakefield) improved to 4-0 this year after allowing two runs (all earned) on eight hits with four strikeouts in 6.0 innings (90 pitches). Sophomore Richie Serignese (New Castle, Pa./Neshannock) earned his second save of the season after working 1.0 scoreless inning of relief with no hits. IUP senior Jeff Allen was saddled with the loss (3-1) after yielding four runs (two earned) on five hits with six strikeouts and two walks over 5.0 innings (86 pitches).
 
Cal U returns to action tomorrow, Sunday, March 24, when it continues its series at IUP with a doubleheader at 1 p.m.