WASHINGTON, Pa. (April 29) – The Vulcans scored nearly 20 combined runs while sweeping a doubleheader against Clarion at Wild Things Park on Friday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play, winning 11-3 and 8-4.

With the wins, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team improves to 27-14 overall with a 12-10 record in league action. The Vulcans are now tied for fourth place in the PSAC West standings with six divisional games left in the regular season. Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles fall to 10-30 this season behind a 5-17 mark in conference play.

In Game 1, the Vulcans raced out to a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the first and held an 11-0 lead before the Golden Eagles scored three runs in the seventh inning. Freshman first baseman Payton Conte (California, Pa./California) went 2-for-3 with three RBI and one run scored, while redshirt freshman designated hitter Santino Marra (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands) finished 2-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored. Senior catcher Justin Stewart (Butler, Pa./Butler) belted a three run homer, while the trio of senior shortstop Anthony Venezia (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler), senior second baseman Jacob McCaskey (Tarentum, Pa./Deer Lakes) and senior third baseman Louden Conte (California, Pa./California) each scored twice.

The initial three batters of the game for Cal U reached on walks before Louden Conte collected an RBI on a hit by pitch. Payton Conte then followed with a two-run single before Marra delivered an RBI double. Following a ground-out, the Vulcans scored on a sacrifice fly before Marra scored on a bunt single by senior left fielder Mike Landy (Jamison, Pa./La Salle). The Vulcans stretched the lead to 9-0 in the second inning with an inside-the-park homer by Venezia, his fifth of the year, that deflected off an outfielder and a sacrifice fly.

In the sixth, the Vulcans had runners on the corners with two outs before Stewart registered his fourth home run of the season. Clarion avoided the shutout with three runs after five-straight batters reached in the seventh.

Senior Dylan Brosky (East Millsboro, Pa./Brownsville) earned the victory to improve 7-3 this season. He scattered three hits and two walks over 6.0 scoreless innings (77 pitches) while posting six strikeouts. Clarion starter Bryce Grenet (1-6) suffered the loss after surrendering eight runs (all earned) on six hits and four walks in 2.0 innings (67 pitches).

In Game 2, Clarion scored four runs in the top of the first before Cal U claimed a 5-4 lead in the third inning. Venezia went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Louden Conte finished 2-for-3 with four RBI and one run scored. Landry reached base twice and posted a pair of RBI.

The Golden Eagles drew a bases-loaded walk in the first before delivering a three-run double. In the bottom of the second, Landry collected a two-run, bases-loaded single with two outs. Cal U then scored three runs on four hits in the third inning to take a 5-4 lead. Venezia led off the inning with a single and stole second before scoring on an RBI single by McCaskey. Louden Conte and Marra later both registered RBI doubles in the inning.

In the fourth, Cal U opened the inning with back-to-back singles before Louden Conte later followed with a two-run single to left field. The Vulcans scored the final run in the sixth with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by Louden Conte.

Freshman Roman Gill (Hopewell, Pa./Hopewell) earned the victory in relief to improve to 4-2 this year. He tossed 4.0 innings of scoreless relief (61 pitches) and allowed five hits while posting five strikeouts. Clarion starter Trevor McGee (1-5) was saddled with the loss after yielding five runs (all earned) on seven hits in 3.0 innings (75 pitches).

The Vulcans resume their series with the Golden Eagles tomorrow, Saturday, April 30 with a doubleheader at Clarion, starting at 1 p.m.