WILSON, N.C. (March 13) – The Vulcans scored 18 runs in the seventh inning while totaling their most runs in a game in over two decades on Sunday afternoon, earning a 30-7 victory over Alderson Broaddus at Fleming Stadium to close out their spring trip.

With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team improves to 10-3 this season after scoring a combined 55 runs over four games in North Carolina. The Vulcans last scored 30 runs in a game during the 2000 season in Game 1 of a doubleheader against neighboring Washington & Jefferson. Cal U is one of only three NCAA Division II teams – Columbus State (Ga.) and Mount Olive (N.C.) – to score at least 30 runs in a game this season. Meanwhile, the Battlers drop to 0-10 overall.

Five different players scored at least three runs in the victory, while 14 different players were credited with at least one RBI. Sophomore designated hitter Jayden Taitano (Lancaster, Pa./Conestoga Valley) went 4-for-5 with a two-run homer, three RBI and five runs scored. Senior third baseman Louden Conte (California, Pa./California) finished 3-for-4 with four RBI and three runs scored, while senior catcher Justin Stewart (Butler, Pa./Butler) went 2-for-5 with one RBI and three runs scored.

Senior shortstop Jacob McCaskey (Tarentum, Pa./Deer lakes) and senior right fielder Patrick Brogan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Our Lady of the Sacred Heart) both scored four runs and combined for six RBI. Senior first baseman Chris Brady (Arlington, Va./Washington-Liberty) posted two hits, two walks and two RBI, while senior Mike Landry (Jamison, Pa./La Salle) and redshirt freshman Nathan Meeks (New Castle, Pa./Union) both scored twice without recording an official at-bat.

Alderson Broaddus scored once in the bottom of the first and added two runs in the second before Cal U tied the score at 3-3 in the third inning. The Vulcans then posted four runs in the fifth to take a 7-3 lead before the Battlers registered a solo homer in the bottom of the inning.

Cal U stretched the lead to 12-4 after batting around in the sixth inning, scoring five runs on three hits, two walks and one error. Conte delivered a bases-loaded triple in the sixth. Alderson Broaddus responded with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to cut the deficit to 12-7 before leaving runners on the corners.

The Vulcans registered an overwhelming 18 runs in the top of the seventh on 10 hits, six walks and three hit by pitch while facing four different pitchers. McCaskey and Taitano both recorded two-run homers in their initial at-bats of the inning before Cal U scored runs on three bases-loaded walks and a bases-loaded hit pitch. Brogan then delivered a two-run single before back-to-back RBI singles by Taitano and redshirt freshman Santino Marra (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands). Later in the inning, junior Udhay Bal (Brampton, Ontario/Heart Lake) and sophomore Jax Miller (Pittsburgh, Pa./Avonworth) posted RBI singles.

Junior Devin Foster (Davidsville, Pa./Conemaugh Township) earned the victory to improve to 3-0 this season. He allowed four runs (all earned) on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts over 5.0 innings. The Battlers used seven different pitchers in the contest that combined to issue 14 walks and hit five batters.

Cal U returns to action on Tuesday, March 15, when it travels to face Davis & Elkins in non-conference play at 3 p.m.