WASHINGTON, Pa. (April 20) – The California University of Pennsylvania baseball team split a doubleheader versus Seton Hill on Saturday afternoon at Wild Things Park, falling by a 5-2 margin in Game 1 before securing a 4-1 victory in Game 2 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play.
 
With the split, the Vulcans stand at 28-9 overall behind a 13-5 mark in league play. Cal U sits in second place in the divisional standings, while Gannon holds the top spot after earning the series win over Pitt-Johnstown this weekend. Meanwhile, the Griffins move to 20-16 this season with an 11-7 record in conference action.
 
In Game 2, junior starter Bradyn Kail (Baltimore, Md./Loyola Blakefield) improved to 7-1 this year after tossing a consecutive complete game. He allowed just one run (earned) on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts in 7.0 innings (109 pitches). Kail continues to lead the team with seven wins and has surrendered just two earned runs over his last two starts. Seton Hill sophomore George Coyle was saddled with the loss (5-2) after yielding four runs (all earned) on 10 hits with no walks and four strikeouts.
 
The Vulcans entered the bottom of the sixth with score tied at 1-1 before senior second baseman Nico Marchetti (Laurel, Md./St. Vincent Pallotti) led off with a double down the left-field line. Senior first baseman Eric Fairman (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) followed with a single through the right side before junior designated hitter Corey Fogle (Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville) delivered an RBI single to left field, as the Vulcans took a 2-1 lead. Sophomore third baseman Louden Conte (California, Pa./California) then loaded the bases on a single before freshman right fielder Patrick Brogan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Our Lady of the Sacred Heart) drove in a pair of runs on a single through the left side, 4-1. Kail closed out the game in the top of the seventh when a fielder's choice marked the final out to claim a 4-1 win.
 
In the top of the first inning, the Griffins grabbed the early lead when designated hitter Andrew Chuba started the game with a solo homer to left field, his fifth of the season, to take a 1-0 advantage. Cal U countered in the bottom of the second inning when Conte recorded a double to left field with one out. Freshman shortstop Jacob McCaskey (Tarentum, Pa./Deer Lakes) notched an RBI single through the left side that scored Conte to tie the contest at 1-1. Both teams left a runner in scoring position in the third frame before Seton Hill threatened in the fourth after third baseman Tommy Pellis singled and moved to third on a pair of fielder's choices. The Vulcans picked off Pellis at third in a rundown that involved four different players to keep the score tied. In the fifth, Seton Hill started the inning by reaching on an error and a single. The Vulcans then recorded a force out at third and a foul-out to first base. Cal U escaped the inning with no damage after throwing out the runner at third on a wild pitch. The Griffins created another scoring opportunity in the sixth after Pellis singled up the middle and advanced to second on a stolen base with one out. Pellis was caught stealing the following play at third and ended the threat by Seton Hill.
 
Fogle finished 2-for-3 with one RBI, while McCaskey went 2-for-2 with one RBI. Conte finished 2-for-3 with one run scored, plus Brogan went 1-for-3 with two RBI.
 
In Game 1, the Griffins wasted little time scoring two runs on four hits in the top of the first inning. Seton Hill led off with a single and a walk before Pellis laced an RBI single through the left side to take a 1-0 lead. Later in the inning, Griffin shortstop Isaiah DiAndreth delivered an RBI single to left field to extend the lead to 2-0. Senior center fielder Ben Maudie (Jackson, Mo./Jackson) and Marchetti began the bottom half with a pair of walks before Maudie moved to third on a fly-out. With two outs, Marchetti was caught in a rundown between first and second that allowed Maudie to score from third to cut the deficit to 2-1. In the top of the second, the Griffins tallied back-to-back doubles to stretch the lead to 3-1 before stranding a runner in scoring position. Conte drew a leadoff walk to start the bottom of the second before Brogan posted a single through the right side. A sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position before Seton Hill recorded consecutive outs to halt the scoring opportunity.
 
After a scoreless third and fourth frames, the Griffins drew a leadoff walk before second baseman Chris Law registered an RBI double down the right-field line, 4-1. With two outs, Seton Hill right fielder Brandon Kline recorded an RBI single to center field to extend the lead to 5-1. In the bottom of sixth, Fairman singled to center field before advancing to second on a stolen base. The Vulcans had runners on the corners after Conte was hit by the pitch before Brogan singled to left field that scored Fairman, 5-2. Cal U was retired in the order in the bottom of the seventh, as the Griffin sealed the victory.
 
Brogan finished 2-for-3 with one RBI, while Fairman finished 1-for-3 with one run scored and one stolen base.
 
Junior starter Nick Riggle (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks) suffered the loss (5-2) despite tossing his fifth-straight complete-game. He yielded five runs (all earned) on 10 hits with three walks over 7.0 innings (90 pitches). Riggle now holds a 2.00 ERA over 54.0 innings pitched in eight starts this season. Seton Hill sophomore Jared Kollar improved to 3-2 this season after tossing a 7.0-inning, complete-game. He surrendered two runs (both earned) on four hits with three walks and five strikeouts in 7.0 innings (90 pitches).
 
Cal U returns to action on Monday, April 22, when it continues the series with Seton Hill with a doubleheader in nearby Greensburg, Pennsylvania, starting at 1 p.m.