JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (April 8) – The Vulcans earned the series win with the split of a doubleheader at Pitt-Johnstown on Monday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play, rallying to score four runs in both the sixth and seventh innings in an 8-5 victory in Game 1 before suffering a 6-4 loss in Game 2.
 
With the split, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team stands at 21-8 overall with an 8-4 mark in league action. The Vulcans now hold an 11-1 record against UPJ over the last three years. Meanwhile, the Mountain Cats move to 17-13 this season behind a 5-7 mark in conference play.
 
Cal U entered the top of the sixth inning trailing 4-0 before tallying four runs on five hits to tie the game. Senior center fielder Ben Maudie (Jackson, Mo./Jackson) led off with a triple down the right-field line before senior second baseman Nico Marchetti (Laurel, Md./St. Vincent Pallotti) recorded an RBI on a sacrifice fly to trim the deficit to 4-1. Senior first baseman Eric Fairman (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) and junior designated hitter Corey Fogle (Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville) followed with a back-to-back singles and advanced into scoring position on a passed ball. With one out, freshman right fielder Patrick Brogan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Our Lady of the Sacred Heart) delivered an RBI single to third base and stole second base, as the Vulcans closed the gap to 4-2. Freshman shortstop Jacob McCaskey (Tarentum, Pa./Deer Lakes) then posted an infield single to score Fogle and advanced to second on a stolen base, 4-3. With two outs, senior catcher Kristian Webb (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair) drew a walk before sophomore third baseman Louden Conte (California, Pa./California) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to tie the contest at 4-4. Pitt-Johnstown reclaimed a 5-4 advantage in the bottom half on an error that scored a runner from third.
 
In the seventh, Fairman reached base on a walk and Fogle was hit by a pitch with one out to place the tying run in scoring position. Brogan then laced a double to left field to tie the game at 5-5 before McCaskey reached on an error and advanced to second after laying down a squeeze bunt, as Cal U took a 6-5 lead. Junior Aaron Previsky (California, Pa./California) then followed with another squeeze bunt that scored Brogan and McCaskey to extend the advantage to 8-5. The Vulcans retired the side in order in the bottom half of the frame to secure the victory.
 
Brogan finished 2-for-4 with two RBI, two runs scored and one stolen base, while Fairman went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two stolen bases. Maudie finished 2-for-4 with one run scored, plus McCaskey went 1-for-3 with two RBI, one run scored and one stolen base.
 
Freshman Patrick Gumto (Allison Park, Pa./Shaler) improved to 3-1 this season after tossing 2.0 scoreless innings of relief with no hits and three strikeouts. Senior starter Tyler Eritz (Oakdale, Pa./West Allegheny) took a no-decision after yielding four runs (all earned) on eight hits with two walks and four strikeouts over 4.2 innings (85 pitches). UPJ sophomore Raymond Watt was saddled with the loss (0-3) after allowing four runs (one earned) on one hit with two walks in 1.0 inning of relief.
 
In Game 2, Cal U established the early lead at 1-0 after Maudie reached base on an error to start the contest. He advanced to third on a stolen base and a throwing error before Fairman tallied an RBI on a ground-out. In the bottom of the second, Pitt-Johnstown freshman Owen McKeever laced a bases-clearing, three-run triple to right field before scoring on a single to center field, 4-1. After a scoreless third inning, the Vulcans tallied three runs on two hits in the fourth after Fogle drew a leadoff walk. Brogan singled to left field and McCaskey collected a walk to load the bases. After a double play resulted in a run, Webb then launched a two-run homer to center field, his second of the season, to tie the game at 4-4. In the bottom of the fifth, UPJ junior Zach Zinn belted a solo homer to left-center, his fourth of the year, to reclaim the lead at 5-4 before an RBI double stretched the advantage to 6-4. Cal U was retired in order over the final two innings, as the Mountain Cats sealed the win.
 
Webb finished with the two-run homer and Marchetti went 1-for-2 with one stolen base. Brogan finished 1-for-3 with one run scored versus Pitt-Johnstown.
 
Freshman Dylan Brosky (East Millsboro, Pa./Brownsville) suffered the loss (2-1) after surrendering two runs (all earned) on three hits with one strikeout in 1.2 innings of relief. Senior starter Damian Clarke (Carlisle, Ontario/Waterdown) posted a no-decision after yielding four runs (all earned) on six hits with four strikeouts over 3.0 innings (62 pitches). Sophomore Hunter Robinson (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central) made his season debut and tossed 1.1 innings of scoreless relief with two strikeouts. Pitt-Johnstown freshman Ben Briggs earned the win (2-0) in 2.2 scoreless innings of relief and sophomore Joel Colledge took a no-decision after allowing four runs (three earned) on three hits with six strikeouts over 4.1 innings (83 pitches).
 
The Vulcans return to action tomorrow, Tuesday, April 9, when they host Salem in non-conference play for a nine-inning contest at 1 p.m.