WASHINGTON, Pa. (Feb. 27) – The Vulcans received another sterling pitching performance and scored seven-unanswered runs on Saturday afternoon while claiming a 7-1 win over Wheeling in non-conference play at Wild Things Park.

With the victory, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team improves to 2-0 this season after allowing just two total runs in 18 innings. Meanwhile, the Cardinals stand at 0-2 overall after holding a 9-4 mark last year before the campaign was halted.

Junior Dylan Brosky (East Millsboro, Pa./Brownsville) earned the win after yielding one run (earned) on three hits and two walks in 5.0 innings (76 pitches). He now holds a 2.31 ERA with nine strikeouts in three career appearances against Wheeling. The trio of sophomore Devin Foster (Davidsville, Pa./Conemaugh Township), freshman Jackson Miller (Uniontown, Pa./Albert Gallatin) and junior Patrick Gumto (Allison Park, Pa./Shaler) combined to toss four scoreless innings of relief on Saturday with Gumto tallying four strikeouts in 2.0 innings.

Wheeling threatened in the top of the first with runners on second and third before senior third baseman Louden Conte (California, Pa./California) made a diving stop to prevent a run from scoring and threw out the batter at first. Brosky then halted the threat by forcing the next batter to fly-out.

The Cardinals later took a 1-0 lead in the third with a two-out RBI single before the Vulcans answered with three runs in the fourth. Cal U tied the score on an RBI single by senior first baseman Josh Rankin (Moon Twp., Pa./Moon) before junior Nick Serafino (McDonald, Pa./Canon-McMillan) later delivered a pinch-hit, two-run single with two outs.

In the fifth, the Vulcans stretched the lead to 5-1 on a two-run double by Rankin. Wheeling drew back-to-back walks in the top of the sixth and later loaded the bases on another walk before Foster recorded a strikeout to end the threat.

Gumto retired the Cardinals in order in the eighth, all via called third strikes, before Cal U added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the inning. Sophomore left fielder Colby Rockacy (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks) and Conte reached on consecutive errors before both advanced on a wild pitch. Rockacy then scored on a ground-out and Conte also touched home on the play via a throwing error.

Rankin finished 2-for-3 with a career-high three RBI, one run scored and one walk. Junior right fielder Patrick Brogan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Our Lady of the Sacred Heart) posted two hits, one RBI, one run scored and a pair of stolen bases in the victory.

Wheeling starter Cameron Madden (0-1) suffered the loss after surrendering three runs (all earned) on three hits and three walks in 3.2 innings (75 pitches).

Cal U will now close the series against Wheeling on Monday, March 1, at Wild Things Park with first pitch set for 1 p.m.

NOTE: The Vulcans and Cardinals rescheduled the final game of the series to Monday due to rain in the forecast on Sunday, Feb. 28.