AUBURNDALE, Fla. (March 11) – After building a 5-0 lead in the first inning, the California (PA) registered an 11-5 win over Winona State (Minn.) to close out the RussMatt Baseball Invitational down in Florida on Friday morning.

With the victory, the Vulcans improve to 8-4 as they won their final three games during the spring trip. Meanwhile, the Warriors fall to 4-8.

 Sophomore first baseman Payton Conte (California, Pa./California) led the Vulcans as he went 3-for-5 with three RBI and scored a run. Senior catcher Justin Stewart (Butler, Pa./Butler) tallied three hits, scored a pair of runs and drove in a run as well. Sophomore left fielder Ryan Callahan (Bexley, Ohio/Bexley) notched three RBI on two hits and scored two times while     senior right fielder Colby Rockacy (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks) posted a pair of RBI on two hits and scored a run.

The Vulcans grasped early momentum as Callahan drove in sophomore second baseman Santino Marra (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands) on a single to right field before Rockacy knocked in Callahan on an RBI-single to left field, 2-0. Conte blasted a double to right field to score Rockacy and Stewart followed by junior third baseman Brett Bobin (Wampum, Pa./Mohawk) hitting an in-field single to second base, scoring Conte, 5-0. Later on in the fourth, Cal extended its advantage to 8-0 as junior designated hitter Jayden Taitano (Lancaster, Pa./Conestoga Valley) recorded an RBI-single to left field followed by Rockacy batting-in Stewart with a single, 7-0. Conte drove in Taitano from second base with a single, 8-0.

Winona State answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth to trim its deficit to 8-2 before the Cal countered with two runs for itself in the fifth when Callahan sacrifice-flied to center field to score Meeks before Stewart doubled to left field, bringing in Marra to stretch the Vulcan edge to 10-2. The Warriors cut their deficit in half in the sixth with a trio of runs which was highlighted a two-run double, 10-5. Freshman pitcher Michael Valente (Wallingford, Pa./Strath Haven) held Winona State hitless through the final three innings while Callahan knocked in his third RBI of the game, giving Cal a 11-5 lead.

Valente earned his first career win as he allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits in 2.0 innings. Starting pitcher Sam Georgiana (Canonsburg, Pa./Seton LaSalle) was dealt a no-decision while yielding two runs (one earned) on five hits and collected four strikeouts in 4.0 innings. Junior relief pitcher Justin Naylor (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) tallied five hits and allowed no hits in 2.0 innings.

Winona State starting pitcher Peyton Lee suffered the loss as he surrendered eight runs (seven earned) on 11 hits in 4.0 innings.

The Vulcans return to action on Friday, March 17, as they travel to face Bluefield State (W.Va) in non-conference play.