WILSON, N.C. (March 6) – The Vulcans split a doubleheader versus Lock Haven on Friday night to open their spring trip at Fleming Stadium, securing a 4-3 victory in Game 1 before falling by a 7-6 margin in extra innings in Game 2.
 
With the split, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team moves to 5-3 overall while already playing five one-run games this season. Meanwhile, Lock Haven stands at 4-4 this year behind a 2-0 record in extra innings.
 
In Game 1, the contest was tied at 3-3 entering the bottom of the seventh before freshman Carter Chinn (Grove City, Pa./Grove City) drew a pinch-hit walk to start the frame. Classmate Colby Rockacy (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) entered as a pinch-runner before advancing on a wild pitch and a ground-out to third. During the following at-bat, Rockacy scored on a wild pitch to win the game, 4-3.
 
Cal U retired the side in order in the top of the first before sophomore catcher Justin Stewart (Butler, Pa./Butler) reached base on a leadoff walk and stole second base. With two outs, senior designated hitter Corey Fogle (Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville) drew a walk before both base runners scored on a dropped pop-up in the infield, 2-0.
 
After a scoreless second inning, the Bald Eagles posted back-to-back singles to left field before loading the bases on an error with two outs in the top of the third. The Vulcans escaped the frame with a ground-out that stranded all three runners on base.
 
In the top of the fifth, Lock Haven took a 3-2 advantage after scoring three runs on three hits. The Bald Eagles delivered a two-run single to right field to tie the contest before an RBI double down the right-field line put Lock Haven ahead. Following a pitching change, Cal U stranded a pair of runners in scoring position after recording a strikeout. The Vulcans answered in the bottom half of the inning after Stewart reached base on an error and advanced to second on a balk. Junior third baseman Louden Conte (California, Pa./California) then laced an RBI double to left-center to tie the game at 3-3.
 
Lock Haven would leave three runners in scoring position over the next two innings, including the go-ahead run on third base twice.
 
Conte finished 1-for-2 with one RBI and one walk, while Stewart posted one walk, scored two runs and one stolen base.
 
Sophomore Patrick Gumto (Allison Park, Pa./Shaler) claimed the win (1-0) after tossing 2.2 innings of scoreless relief with three strikeouts and three walks. He has now made five appearances this season without surrendering a run over 8.1 innings pitched. Senior starter Nick Riggle (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks) took a no-decision after yielding three runs on seven hits with three walks and two strikeouts in 4.1 innings pitched (83 pitches). Sophomore David Keller suffered the loss (0-1) after working 0.2 inning of relief after allowing the game-winning run in the seventh. Junior Scott Leitholf also took a no-decision after surrendering three runs (all unearned) on two hits with four walks and nine strikeouts over 6.0 innings (92 pitches).
 
In Game 2, Lock Haven jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after junior Reagan Lawlor belted a solo homer to right-center, his first of the season, in the bottom of the first inning.
 
After a scoreless second inning, Cal U brought in four runs on a pair of hits to take a 4-1 lead in the third frame. Sophomore second base Anthony Venezia (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler) drew a leadoff walk before Conte singled to right field with one out. Sophomore center fielder Patrick Brogan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Our Lady of the Sacred Heart) followed with a two-run triple to right-center to score both runners. Fogle and sophomore shortstop Jacob McCaskey (Tarentum,Pa./Deer Lakes) then each took a walk to load the bases. During the next at-bat, Brogan scored a wild pitch and Fogle crossed the plate on a throwing error to extend the lead.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, the Bald Eagles loaded the bases on a pair of walks and a single with no outs. Lock Haven then brought in a run on a sacrifice fly to close the gap to 4-2 before loading the bases again on a walk with two outs. The Bald Eagles then tied the game at 4-4 on a two-run single up the middle before stranding a pair of runners on base.
 
Both teams went scoreless over the next two innings before Conte delivered a solo homer to right field, his first of the season, to put the Vulcans ahead 5-4 in the top of the seventh. With two outs, Fogle then registered a double to right-center and junior first baseman Bill Hitman (Norristown, Pa./Pope John Paul II) followed with a walk. After a pitching change, a strikeout stranded both runners on base. In the bottom half, the Bald Eagles tied the game at 5-5 on an RBI double to left-center to force extra innings.
 
In the eighth inning, junior Hayden Kristophel (New Castle, Pa./Shenango) drew a walk before advancing on a fielding error and a wild pitch to third base. Stewart recorded on RBI on a ground-out to second-base, which scored Kristophel, 6-5. Lock Haven would again tie the game again in the bottom of the eighth on a two-out RBI single to left field, 6-6.
 
The Bald Eagles drew a walk with one out in the bottom of the ninth before delivering an infield single to put two runners on base. With two outs, junior Joey Lowen laced an RBI single up the middle to secure the win, 7-6
 
Conte went 2-for-5 with a solo homer and two runs scored, while Hitman finished 2-for-4 with one walk.
 
Sophomore Tyler Bedillion (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette) was saddled with loss (0-1) after surrendering two runs on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts over 1.2 innings of relief. Senior Bradyn Kail (Baltimore, Md./Loyola Blakefield) yielded one run on three hits with five strikeouts in 3.1 innings of relief (61 pitches). Sophomore starter Zach Rohaley (Washington, Pa./Canon-McMillan) took a no-decision after allowing four runs on three hits with five walks and four strikeouts over 3.2 innings (75 pitches). Lock Haven freshman Tristian Lockett earned the win (1-0) after surrendering one run on no hits with four strikeouts in 2.1 innings of relief.
 
Cal U returns to action in North Carolina tomorrow, Saturday, March 7, against Shepherd at 5:30 p.m.