WASHINGTON, Pa. (May 8) – The Vulcans secured a berth in the league tournament on Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader sweep over Gannon on Senior Day at Wild Things Park in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action, winning 7-2 in Game 1 and posting a 5-4 victory in Game 2.

With the sweep, Cal U improves to 25-15 this season and finishes divisional play tied for third with a 16-12 mark. The Vulcans will play an opening-round elimination game on the road in the PSAC Tournament on Wednesday, May 12, with an opponent still to be determined. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights finish the regular season at 18-16 overall and also tied for third in the PSAC West standings with a 16-12 mark.

In Game 1, junior Jacob McCaskey (Tarentum, Pa./Deer Lakes) earned the first complete-game victory of his collegiate career. The team's leading hitter this season, he allowed two runs (both earned) and scattered five hits with two walks over 7.0 innings (110 pitches). McCaskey also tied his career high with nine strikeouts, as seven of his initial 10 outs were via strikeout.

Gannon took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a solo homer by first baseman Ian Hess before Cal U answered with a two-run homer by junior right fielder Patrick Brogan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Our Lady of the Sacred Heart) in the bottom of the inning. McCaskey forced the Golden Knights to strand runners at second and third in the third inning before Vulcans stretched the lead to 4-1 with a two-run single by Brogan with two outs in the bottom half.

In the fourth, Cal U added to the lead with an opposite-field, solo homer by senior first baseman Josh Rankin (Moon Twp., Pa./Moon). The Vulcans added a pair of insurance runs in the fifth when Rankin delivered a two-out, two-run single with the bases loaded, 7-1. Gannon scored on a sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth, but was unable to advance another runner into scoring position in the contest.

Brogan finished 2-for-3 with a two-run homer – his eighth of the year – and a season-high four RBI and Rankin went 2-for-3 with a solo homer and three RBI. Junior shortstop Anthony Venezia (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler) and sophomore left fielder Colby Rockacy (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks) both added two hits and one run scored, while senior center fielder Aaron Previsky (California, Pa./California) reached base in all three plate appearances (two singles, hit by pitch) in the victory.

The Vulcans still needed a victory in Game 2 to secure a berth in the PSAC Tournament.

Gannon took a 1-0 lead in the first on a solo homer by left fielder Bandon Wetherholt before adding three runs in the second, including a two-run homer by right fielder Adam Malecki. The Vulcans left the bases loaded in the second before tying the score at 4-4 by scoring four runs with two outs in the third.

Brogan started the rally with a ground-rule double before senior third baseman Louden Conte (California, Pa./California) delivered a two-run homer, his sixth of the year. Cal U then loaded the bases on a hit by pitch, single and fielding error before Rockacy lined a two-run single to left center, 4-4.

With two outs in the fourth, the Vulcans made a pitching change to junior Patrick Gumto (Allison Park, Pa./Shaler) with runners on first and second. Gumto threw three-consecutive strikes to halt the threat with a strikeout. Cal U stranded a runner on second in both the fourth and fifth innings before breaking the tie in the bottom of the sixth.

Junior catcher Justin Stewart (Butler, Pa./Butler) led off with a single before McCaskey was issued a walk. Stewart then advanced to third on a fly-out to center field before Conte delivered a go-ahead, RBI single through the left side. Gumto retired the Golden Knights in order in the seventh to seal the victory.

Gumto (2-0) earned the win after tossing 3.1 scoreless innings (33 pitches) of relief. He scattered two hits and issued zero walks while tallying three strikeouts on Saturday. Freshman Jackson Miller (Uniontown, Pa./Albert Gallatin) also logged 2.0 scoreless innings of relief in the contest.

Conte finished 2-for-3 with three RBI, one run scored and one walk. Rockacy added a pair of hits and two RBI, while Previsky collected two hits and one run scored.

Cal U awaits the results of the doubleheader between Slippery Rock and Clarion tomorrow, Sunday, May 9, to determine its seeding and opponent for the PSAC Tournament. The Rock would clinch a berth in a tournament with a doubleheader sweep and force a three-way tie for third place in the PSAC West standings, while Gannon would qualify for the post-season with a loss by Slippery Rock.