INDIANA, Pa. (April 12) – The California University of Pennsylvania baseball team posted a pair of four-run innings and held off a late rally to earn a 10-7 victory at IUP in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action on Tuesday afternoon.

With the win, the Vulcans improve to 22-9 this season with a 7-5 mark in league play. Cal U claimed the series victory against IUP this spring after winning three of the four meetings. Meanwhile, the Crimson Hawks fall to 14-15 overall behind a 6-6 record in divisional action.

Senior catcher Justin Stewart (Butler, Pa./Butler) went 2-for-3 with a solo homer, two RBI, two runs scored, one walk and two stolen bases. Freshman first baseman Payton Conte (California, Pa./California) reached base in all four plate appearances, finishing 2-for-2 with one run scored and two walks. Sophomore left fielder Jax Miller (Pittsburgh, Pa./Avonworth) tallied a pair of RBI in the victory.

Cal U raced out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the second while collecting just one hit. Senior right fielder Patrick Brogan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Our Lady of the Sacred Heart) reached on a leadoff walk before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Miller. Redshirt freshman second baseman Santino Marra (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands) then scored on a wild pitch before Stewart collected an RBI single, 3-0. Stewart later advanced to third on a pair of stolen bases before scoring on a passed ball.

The Vulcans had runners on the corners in the third following back-to-back walks before a double play ended the inning.  Cal U stretched the lead to 5-0 in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by freshman center fielder Adam Crawford (North Fayette, Pa./West Allegheny) with the bases loaded. In the fifth, Miller extended the lead with his second sacrifice fly of the game before IUP responded with a solo homer by right fielder Torrey Roper.

Stewart opened the sixth with a solo homer, his third of the year, before senior shortstop Anthony Venezia (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler) later delivered an RBI double. Cal U then scored on a sacrifice fly before Marra later delivered a two-out RBI single, 10-1. The Crimson Hawks responded with five runs with two outs in the bottom of the inning, highlighted by a three-run triple by Roper.

In the bottom of the seventh, IUP again mounted a two-out rally and cut the deficit to 10-7 on an RBI double before a walk brought the game-tying run to the plate. The Vulcans were then able to complete the victory with a fly-out to deep left field.

Senior Jacob McCaskey (Tarentum, Pa./Deer Lakes) earned the win to improve to 4-0 this season. He allowed five runs (all earned) on six hits and three walks in 5.2 innings pitched. McCaskey scattered just three hits over his initial 5.0 innings of work, while also going 1-for-2 with one RBI, one run scored and one walk at the plate.

IUP starter Joe Dolansky suffered the loss after yielding four runs (two earned) on one hit and three walks in 1.1 innings. The Crimson Hawks used five different pitchers in the seven-inning contest.

Cal U returns to action on Friday, April 15, when it opens a PSAC West series against Mercyhurst with a home doubleheader at Wild Things Park, starting at 1 p.m.