WILSON, NC (March 9) – The Vulcans posted back-to-back shutout victories for the first time since 2014 after defeating Ohio Dominican by a 5-0 margin on Saturday afternoon at Fleming Stadium.
 
With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team improves to 7-1 overall behind a 6-1 mark against Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) teams. Meanwhile, the Panthers drop their fifth-straight game and hold a 4-6 record after advancing the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championship last season.
 
Junior starter Nick Riggle (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks) tossed 8.0 scoreless innings (118 pitches) and matched his career high with six strikeouts. He yielded just four hits and issued two walks while stranding two runners in scoring position. Riggle has made three appearances on the mound this season and holds a 0.95 ERA over 19.0 innings pitched. Sophomore Richie Serignese (New Castle, Pa./Neshannock) finished the game after working 1.0 scoreless inning of relief with two strikeouts and zero hits.
 
Ohio Dominican threatened to score in the initial inning of the contest before the Vulcans registered consecutive outs to strand the baserunner on third. Cal U recorded the first run of the game in the bottom of the second after beginning the inning with a leadoff walk from sophomore third baseman Louden Conte (California, Pa./California). A ground-out and a fielder's choice moved Conte to third base before he crossed the plate during a rundown at second base to take a 1-0 advantage.
 
Both teams went scoreless in the third inning before Cal U tallied three runs on two hits in the bottom of the fourth inning. Conte delivered a single through the left side before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Junior designated hitter Corey Fogle (Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville) then drew a walk before both runners moved into scoring position on a fly-out to deep left-center. With two outs, sophomore left fielder Bill Hitman (Norristown, Pa./Pope John Paul II) reached base on a fielding error by the first baseman that allowed Conte to score from third, 2-0. Hitman moved to second on a stolen base before freshman catcher Justin Stewart (Butler, Pa./Butler) laced a two-run single to right field to give the Vulcans a 4-0 lead. Cal U tallied an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single by Stewart, while the Panthers recorded just one hit over the final three innings.
 
Stewart finished 3-for-4 with three RBI in his college debut and Conte went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and one walk.
 
The Vulcans return to action tomorrow, Sunday March 9, at Fleming Stadium in North Carolina versus Glenville State with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m.