WASHINGTON, Pa. (Feb. 25) – The Vulcans opened their weekend series against Carson-Newman (Tenn.) on Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader split in non-conference action at Wild Things Park, suffering an 8-6 loss in Game 1 and earning a 7-2 victory in Game 2.

With the split, the California (PA) baseball team moves to 4-1 this season with all five games being played at home. Meanwhile, the Eagles stand at 6-8 overall after being picked fifth in the preseason South Atlantic Conference (SAC) poll.

In Game 2, sophomore second baseman Santino Marra (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands) went 4-for-5 with one RBI and one run scored and sophomore center fielder Adam Crawford (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny) tallied three hits, one RBI and one run scored. Freshman first baseman Jason Peterson, Jr. (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) collected a pair of hits and one run scored in his first career start.

CN took an early 1-0 lead on an RBI single following a leadoff triple in the top of the first. Cal answered in the bottom of the second with an RBI single from sophomore shortstop Nathan Meeks (New Castle, Pa./Union) that scored Peterson, who reached on a two-out double. The Vulcans took a 2-1 advantage in the fourth inning on a two-out RBI double from junior third baseman Brett Bobin (Wampum, Pa./Mohawk).

The Eagles tied the game in the top of the sixth before the Vulcans responded with five runs on three hits in the bottom half of the inning, 7-2. Meeks reached on a fielding error to start the inning before Crawford and Marra later collected back-to-back RBI singles. Sophomore left fielder Ryan Callahan (Bexley, Ohio/Bexley) then delivered an RBI triple to right center before scoring on a sacrifice fly.

Junior Justin Naylor (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) earned the victory after tossing 1.2 innings of scoreless relief while not allowing a hit or walk. Sophomore starter Roman Gill (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell) took a no-decision after yielding one run (earned) on five hits and one walk with four strikeouts over 5.0 innings (83 pitches). Senior David Lee (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) worked a scoreless ninth inning while recording a pair of strikeouts.

In Game 1, senior right fielder Colby Rockacy (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks) went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and an RBI triple. Callahan posted a pair of hits and one run scored, while Crawford recorded two hits and one RBI.

CN claimed a 2-0 edge in the top of the second before Cal tied the score in the bottom of the inning. Meeks started the inning with a single up the middle and scored on the triple by Rockacy, who scored on an RBI infield single by Crawford. The Vulcans then took a 5-2 lead by scoring three runs on two hits in the third inning. Cal scored its first run of the inning on a bases-loaded double play before Rockacy followed with a two-run homer to left center, his second of the year.

The Eagles cut the deficit to 5-3 in the fourth before scoring four runs on four hits and one error in the fifth, 8-5. Cal answered with an RBI single by senior catcher Justin Stewart (Butler, Pa./Butler) in the sixth.

Senior pitcher Devin Foster (Davidsville, Pa./Conemaugh Township) suffered the loss after surrendering six runs (five earned) on seven hits in 4.1 innings (73 pitches). CN senior Mason Mooney earned the win after yielding two runs (one earned) on seven hits in 4.2 innings of relief.

The Vulcans return to action tomorrow, Sunday, Feb. 26, as they conclude their non-conference series against Carson-Newman at Wild Things Park, starting at 12 p.m.