WASHINGTON, Pa. (Feb. 27) – Behind a pair of late three-run innings, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team earned a 7-1 win against Wheeling on Sunday afternoon at Wild Things Park in non-conference action.

With the victory, the Vulcans improve to 4-1 overall after scoring a combined 32 runs since the season-opener. Meanwhile, the Cardinals fall to 1-7 this season after setting the school record with 27 victories last spring.

Sophomore starter Jackson Miller (Uniontown, Pa./Albert Gallatin) improved to 2-0 this season after allowing one run (earned) over 7.0 innings (87 pitches). He scattered three hits and issued two walks while tying his career high of five strikeouts. Miller has held opponents to a .156 batting average this spring after making 16 appearances (four starts) last year. Wheeling starter Paul Tripli (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing four runs (all earned) on 10 hits in 6.0 innings (99 pitches).

In the bottom of the second, Cal U mounted a two-out rally by loading the bases before a foul-out ended the threat. Miller retired the Cardinals in order in the top of the third before the Vulcans again loaded the baes in the bottom of the inning. Senior second baseman Anthony Venezia (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler) started the inning with a double before a hit by pitch and bunt infield single loaded the bases. Venezia then scored on a sacrifice fly, however, Cal U left the bases loaded again in the third.

Wheeling tied the score at 1-1 in the fourth with a solo homer by third baseman Jacob Murray after Cal U won an appeal of a caught stealing during the at-bat. Miller then retired the Cardinals in order in both the fifth and sixth innings on Sunday. Cal U broke the tie in the bottom of the sixth by scoring three runs on four hits to take a 4-1 lead. Freshman first baseman Adam Crawford (North Fayette, Pa./West Allegheny) started the inning with a single before Venezia belted a two-run homer, his second of the year and second in 230 career at-bats, to left field. Following a strikeout, senior shortstop Jacob McCaskey (Tarentum, Pa./Deer Lakes) reached on a triple down the right-field line before senior third baseman Louden Conte (California, Pa./California) followed with an RBI single.

Miller forced Wheeling to leave runners on the corners in the seventh before the Vulcans stretched the lead to 7-1 in the bottom of the inning. Veneiza delivered a two-out RBI single through the left side before sophomore left fielder Jax Miller (Pittsburgh, Pa./Avonworth) collected a two-run single.

In the eighth, the Cardinals threatened with back-to-back singles with two outs before a fly-out ended the inning. Sophomore Justin Naylor (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) retired Wheeling in order in the top of the ninth while making his third appearance of the season.

Venezia finished 3-for-5 with a two-run homer, three RBI and three runs scored form the leadoff spot. Crawford went 2-for-3 with two runs scored in his first career start, while Jax Miller posted a pair of hits and two RBI. McCaskey also collected two hits in the victory for his third multi-hit game of the season.

The Vulcans close out the home series against Wheeling on Tuesday, March 1, with a single nine-inning contest at Wild Things Park with first pitch at 1 p.m.