ERIE, Pa. (April 27) – In a regionally-ranked matchup, the Vulcans posted a split of a doubleheader at Gannon on Saturday afternoon by securing a 22-9 victory in Game 1 before suffering a 9-7 walk-off loss in Game 2 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action.
 
With the split, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team moves to 32-10 behind a 16-6 mark in divisional play. The Vulcans set season highs with 22 runs and 20 hits, while scoring at least 20 runs against a conference opponents for the second time this year. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights stand at 26-12 overall with a 16-6 record in league action. Gannon was also featured in the NCAA Atlantic regional rankings this week in the fifth spot. In the PSAC West standings, Cal U, Mercyhurst and Gannon are all tied for first place with six divisional games remaining.
 
In Game 1, senior catcher Kristian Webb (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair) finished 4-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored, while senior first baseman Eric Fairman (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer, four RBI, three runs scored and two stolen bases. Senior second baseman Nico Marchetti (Laurel, Md./St. Vincent Pallotti) also finished 3-for-5 with a three-run homer and three runs scored, plus sophomore third baseman Louden Conte (California, Pa./California) went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer, three RBI and four runs scored. Senior center fielder Ben Maudie (Jackson, Mo./Jackson) finished 2-for-4 with a three-run homer, four RBI and three runs scored, while sophomore left fielder Bill Hitman (Norristown, Pa./Pope John Paul II) went 2-for-4 with two RBI, two runs scored and one stolen base. All nine starters for the Vulcans collected at least one hit and scored at least one run against the Golden Knights. The 22 runs in Game 1 were the most by the Vulcans against a conference opponent since defeating Clarion by a 23-9 margin in 2012.  
 
Cal U established a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning after Fairman opened the scoring with an RBI double down the right-field line. With two outs, Conte also collected an RBI on a double down the left-field line before freshman right fielder Patrick Brogan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Our Lady of the Sacred Heart) laced a single through the right side to score Conte. Gannon was retired in order in the bottom half before Fairman tallied another RBI on an infield single, 4-0. Junior designated hitter Corey Fogle (Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville) then delivered a two-run single through the right side before Conte launched a two-run homer to center field, his fifth of the season, to extend the lead to 8-0. In the top of third, Webb doubled to right-center with one out before Hitman singled to right field. Maudie followed with an RBI single to left field before Marchetti belted a three-run homer, his fourth of the year, to stretch the lead to 12-0. After a scoreless bottom of third, the Vulcans added five runs on four hits in the fourth inning. Freshman shortstop Jacob McCaskey (Tarentum, Pa./Deer Lakes) registered an RBI single up the middle with one out before Hitman notched a RBI double to left-center to score McCaskey. Maudie then launched a three-run homer to left-center, his team-leading ninth of the season, as Cal U took a 17-0 lead.
 
Gannon trimmed the deficit in the bottom of the fourth with eight runs on seven hits with three errors by the Vulcans. Freshman Ian Hess halted the scoreless drought with a two-run homer to left-center before the Golden Knights scored six unearned runs to trail by a 17-8 margin. In the fifth, Webb hit a ground-rule double to center field with the bases loaded before Hitman recorded an RBI on a ground-out, 20-8. Fairman added to the lead in the sixth frame with a two-run homer to center field to extend the lead to 22-8. The Golden Knights scored a run in the bottom of the seventh on a RBI single before Cal U sealed the 22-9 victory.
 
Junior starter Nick Riggle (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks) improved to 6-2 this season after yielding eight runs (two earned) on 10 hits with two walks and four strikeouts over 6.0 innings (104 pitches). Gannon senior Cory Hegedus was saddled with the loss (3-4) after allowing 12 runs (11 earned) on 12 hits with one walk and five strikeouts in 2.1 innings (82 pitches).
 
In Game 2, the Vulcans took a 1-0 lead in the first inning after Fairman scored from third base on a throwing error by the catcher after Webb stole second. In the bottom the first, freshman Justin Hamm launched solo homer on the first pitch to tie the game at 1-1. Later in the inning, Hess doubled down the left-field line to score a pair of runs to take a 3-1 advantage. After a scoreless second inning, Fairman belted a solo homer to left field, his eighth of the season, to cut the deficit to 3-2.
 
In the top of the fifth, Cal U capitalized on a pair of errors by the Golden Knights to build a 5-3 lead. With one out, Marchetti singled up the middle before Fairman doubled to right-center to put two runners in scoring position. Conte then reached on a strikeout swinging after a throwing error by the catcher, which allowed Marchetti to score. Brogan registered an RBI on infield single before Conte scored on a wild pitch from third. In the sixth, Marchetti notched an RBI on a sacrifice fly to center field, which also moved Maudie to third. During the next at-bat, Maudie stole home to extend the lead to 7-3. Gannon answered with four runs on four hits in the bottom half after senior Jared Beach launched a solo homer, his PSAC-leading 12th of the year, to close the gap to 7-4. After a walk and a single, redshirt freshman Ryan Kalbfus delivered a two-run double to left-center before the Golden Knights loaded the bases on a hit by pitch and a single. Gannon tied the contest at 7-7 on another hit by pitch before Cal U escaped the frame with a strikeout and a double play. After the Vulcans failed to score in the seventh, Gannon would get a leadoff single from Beach before Hess belted a walk-off, two-run homer to complete the comeback victory, 9-7.
 
Brogan finished 3-for-4 with one RBI, while Fairman went 2-for-2 with a solo homer, three runs scored and two walks.
 
Sophomore Hunter Robinson (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central) suffered the loss (0-1) after surrendering two runs (all earned) on three hits with one strikeout over 1.0 inning. Junior starter Bradyn Kail (Baltimore, Md./Loyola Blakefield) took a no-decision after yielding seven runs (all earned) on nine hits with three walks and four strikeouts in 5.0 innings (108 pitches). Golden Knight senior Matthew Yough earned the win (4-0) after tossing 1.0 scoreless inning of relief, while sophomore Deven Judy also registered a no-decision after allowing five runs (one earned) on seven hits with three walks and seven strikeouts over 5.0 innings (109 pitches).
 
Cal U returns to action tomorrow, Sunday, April 28, when it continues the series versus Gannon with a doubleheader at Wild Things Park, starting at 1 p.m.