WASHINGTON, Pa. (April 7) – The Vulcans scored five runs in the bottom of the eighth on Thursday afternoon to earn an 8-6 win over West Liberty in non-conference play at Wild Things Park.

With the victory, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team improves to 19-8 overall behind an 11-5 mark at home. Meanwhile, the Hilltoppers fall to 5-22 this season after allowing 45 runs over their last three games.

Senior designated hitter Jacob McCaskey (Tarentum, Pa./Deer Lakes) extended his hitting streak to 20 games on Thursday, going 2-for-3 with four RBI, one run scored and two stolen bases. He is only the third Cal U player in the last 15 years to record a hitting streak of at least 20 games, as Matt Peters (23 games) and Mick Fennell (20 games) both accomplished the feat in the 2015 campaign. McCaskey ranks third in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) this season with a 1.249 OPS (on base plus slugging percentage) while also leading the league with 44 hits and 38 runs scored.

Freshman center fielder Adam Crawford (North Fayette, Pa./West Allegheny) went 3-for-4 with one RBI, three runs scored one stolen base from the leadoff spot. Freshman first baseman Payton Conte (California, Pa./California) finished 2-for-3 with a three-run homer, while senior third baseman Louden Conte (California, Pa./California) posted two hits and one run scored.

West Liberty took a 4-3 lead in the top of the seventh after scoring a pair of runs with two outs on a walk and a hit by pitch with the bases loaded. The Vulcans answered with five runs on five hits and one error in the eighth to take an 8-4 lead. Crawford started the inning with a single and advanced to third on a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt that allowed redshirt freshman second baseman Santino Marra (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands) to reach safely and advance to second. McCaskey followed with a two-run double to right field and moved to third on a single by Louden Conte. Payton Conte then delivered a three-run homer to left field, the first of his career.

In the ninth, the Hilltoppers cut the deficit to 8-6 on a two-run homer by designated hitter Bradley Goodyear and stranded a runner in scoring position.

Sophomore Justin Naylor (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) earned the victory after tallying a pair of strikeouts in 1.1 inning of scoreless relief. Freshman Jake Woolf (Beavercreek, Ohio/Beavercreek) took a no-decision while making his first career start, allowing one run (earned) on five hits with four strikeouts over 4.0 innings (65 pitches). West Liberty sophomore Tyler Cerjan suffered the loss after yielding five runs (four earned) on five hits in 2.0 innings of relief.

The Hilltoppers claimed a 1-0 lead after collecting three-straight hits in the top of the first. Cal U stranded a runner on third in both the first and second innings before taking a 2-1 lead in the third. Senior shortstop Anthony Venezia (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler) opened the inning with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch before scoring on a single by Crawford. McCaskey later delivered an RBI single to left center to score Crawford from second.

West Liberty loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth before a fielder's choice halted the threat. The Hilltoppers then tied the score on a sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth before the Vulcans reclaimed the lead on a sacrifice fly by McCaskey in the bottom of the inning, 3-2.

Cal U returns to PSAC West action on Saturday, April 9, when it opens a four-game series against IUP with a doubleheader at Wild Things Park, starting at 1 p.m.

Note, the series against the Crimson Hawks was previously scheduled to start with a twinbill at IUP tomorrow, Friday, April 8. However, the games were postponed due to field conditions following recent rainfall.