WASHINGTON, Pa. (March 2) – The California University of Pennsylvania baseball team closed out its series against Walsh with a 12-1 loss in a nine-inning contest on Monday afternoon in non-conference play at Wild Things Park.
 
With the loss, the Vulcans fall to 4-2 overall after playing a pair of three-game series at home to start the year. Cal U has now won three-straight series against Walsh behind an 8-2 record dating back to 2018. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers improve to 3-3 this season and hold a 2-3 mark against Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West opponents.
 
Walsh tallied a pair of singles in the first inning to put runners on the corners before scoring on a throwing error to take an early 1-0 lead. Cal U was retired in order in the bottom half before the Cavaliers added another run in the second to stretch the lead, 2-0. Walsh reached base on a single up the middle and a hit by pitch before junior Cobe Hutchison delivered an RBI single to right field.
 
After a scoreless third inning, the Cavaliers totaled four runs on four hits to take a 6-0 lead in the top of the fourth. With two outs, Walsh drew a walk and singled to center field before senior Alec Graves belted a three-run homer to left field. The Cavaliers then posted a double to left-center before an RBI triple to right-center capped the four-run inning. In the top of fifth, Walsh recorded a pair of RBI singles in the fifth to extend the advantage to 8-0 before tallying a two-run single to right field in the sixth to hold a 10-0 lead. 
 
In the bottom of the seventh, sophomore shortstop Jacob McCaskey (Tarentum, Pa./Deer Lakes) posted a single to left field before junior transfer Hayden Kristophel (New Castle. Pa./Shenango) followed with a single through the left side. Junior Josh Rankin (Moon Twp., Pa./Moon) then delivered an RBI single to left field with two outs to cut the deficit to 10-1.
 
Walsh would bring two more runs across the plate in the top of the eighth on an RBI double and single to take a 12-1 advantage.
 
McCaskey finished 2-for-4 with one run scored, while junior third baseman Louden Conte (California, Pa./California) went 2-for-4 in the loss.
 
Sophomore Dylan Brosky (East Millsboro, Pa./Brownsville) was saddled with loss (0-1) after allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits with one walk and a career-high eight strikeouts in 3.2 innings pitched (92 pitches). Sophomore Patrick Gumto (Allison Park, Pa./Shaler) would not yield a hit over 1.2 innings of scoreless relief, while senior Bradyn Kail (Baltimore, Md./Loyola Blakefield) tossed 1.0 scoreless inning with one strikeout. Walsh sophomore Brant Alazaus earned the win (1-0) after working 6.0 scoreless innings and scattering two hits with five strikeouts and no walks.
 
The Vulcans return to action on Friday, March 6, when they travel to Wilson, North Carolina, to play six games over a six-day stretch. Cal U opens its spring trip with a doubleheader versus Lock Haven at 5 p.m.