WASHINGTON, Pa. (March 21) – The California University of Pennsylvania baseball team extended its winning streak to five games on Sunday afternoon with a 6-5 victory over IUP in non-conference action at Wild Things Park.
With the victory, the Vulcans improve to 8-3 this season behind a 7-3 mark in home games. Cal U swept both games of a home-and-home series against IUP this weekend. Meanwhile, the Crimson Hawks sit at 1-7 overall after dropping its seventh-straight contest.
Cal U broke a 5-5 tie in the bottom of the fifth with a two-out RBI triple by senior center fielder
Aaron Previsky (California, Pa./California) to score senior third baseman
Louden Conte (California, Pa./California), who started the inning with a walk. The Crimson Hawks were retired in order in the sixth before the Vulcans made a pitching change to junior
Jacob McCaskey (Tarentum, Pa./Deer Lakes), who started the game at designated hitter, in the top of the seventh.
In the eighth, IUP threatened with runners on first and second with one out before McCaskey induced an inning-ending double play with Conte touching third before throwing to first. The Vulcans mounted a two-out rally in the bottom half with back-to-back walks before a strikeout ended the inning.
The Crimson Hawks opened the ninth with a runner on first following a fielding error. McCaskey then registered back-to-back strikeouts before a pinch-runner stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. The game ended in dramatic fashion with junior catcher
Justin Stewart (Butler, Pa./Butler) catching a pop-up in foul territory while falling backwards to the artificial surface.
Junior
Dylan Brosky (East Millsboro, Pa./Brownsville) improved to 4-0 this season after allowing five runs (all earned) on eight hits while tallying seven strikeouts over 6.0 innings (87 pitches). McCaskey registered the save with 3.0 innings of two-hit, scoreless relief while posting five strikeouts. IUP reliever Tyler Diefenbach suffered the loss after surrendering two runs (both earned) on four hits in 4.2 innings of relief.
Cal U took a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the second after six-straight batters reached base with two outs. Stewart started the rally with a single and later scored on an RBI single by freshman second baseman
Jax Miller (Pittsburgh, Pa./Avonworth). On the play, IUP committed a throwing error that allowed another run to score and Miller to advance to third. Miller then scored on a wild pitch when junior right fielder
Patrick Brogan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Our Lady of the Sacred Heart) reached on a walk. Following another walk, Conte delivered an RBI single through the left side for the final run of the inning.
The Vulcans added to the lead in the third on a fielder's choice before the Crimson Hawks responded with five runs – all with two outs – in the fourth to tie the score. IUP trailed 5-2 before center fielder Drew Weglarz tied the score with a three-run homer to left field.
Conte finished 2-for-3 with one RBI, one run scored, one walk and one stolen base. Miller went 2-for-4 with one RBI, one run scored and one walk, while Previsky posted two hits, one RBI and one run scored. McCaskey reached base three times (single, walk, hit by pitch) in the victory.
The Vulcans return to action on Tuesday, March 23, when they host Salem at Wild Things Park, starting at 2 p.m.
