GREENSBURG, Pa. (March 25) – In their first action in two weeks, the Vulcans were swept at Seton Hill in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West opener for both teams on Saturday afternoon, as they suffered a 12-4 loss in Game 1 before dropping a 5-4 contest in Game 2.

With the sweep, California (PA) baseball team falls to 8-6 overall and begins conference action with a 0-2 mark. Meanwhile, the Griffins improve to 13-7 this year with a 2-0 record in PSAC West play after being chosen the preseason favorite.

In Game 2, senior catcher Justin Stewart (Butler, Pa./Butler) went 2-for-4 with a triple and a double while tallying two RBI. Sophomore second baseman Santino Marra (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands) collected three hits and scored one run. Sophomore third baseman Nathan Meeks (New Castle, Pa./Union) notched a pair of hits with an RBI and one walk.

Cal struck first as Stewart blasted a two-run triple in the top of the first followed by junior designated hitter Jayden Taitano (Lancaster, Pa./Conestoga Valley) bringing in Stewart on a sacrifice fly, 3-0. Seton Hill answered with a sacrifice fly in the next half inning to cut the deficit to 3-1. Meeks batted-in Conte from third base on a single down the left-field line to extend the Vulcan lead to a 4-1 margin. The Griffins scored a run in the fifth on a ground-out to make the score 4-2, headed into the final two innings. In a pinch-hit opportunity, Drew Garth launched a two-run homer to tie the game at 4-4 in the sixth. Seton Hill walked-off Game 2 with a single down the left field line in the seventh, 5-4.

Starting sophomore pitcher Roman Gill (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell) was dealt a no decision as he only allowed one run (earned) on four hits and posted three strikeouts in 4.0 innings. Freshman pitcher Michael Valente (Wallingford, Pa./Strath Haven) suffered the loss after yielding three runs (all earned) on four hits and registered a pair of strikeouts in 2.0 innings. SHU relief pitcher Blake Barker earned the win with two strikeouts while facing five batters in 1.0 inning.

In Game 1, senior right fielder Colby Rockacy (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks) went 2-for-3 with an RBI and run scored and sophomore left fielder Ryan Callahan (Bexley, Ohio/Bexley) notched a pair of hits and scored a run. Conte collected an RBI with a run scored while Meeks batted in a run.

The Griffins ignited to a 6-0 advantage that was highlighted by a three-run homer in the first. Seton Hill scored a run in the next two innings as it led 8-0 in the third. Cal started a three-run rally in the fourth as Taitano brought in Callahan on a ground-out to third base before Rockacy blasted an RBI-double down left-field line to trim the deficit to 8-2 followed by Conte belting an RBI double of his own down the right-field line as the Griffins led 8-3 in the fourth. Seton Hill scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth to stretch its edge to 10-3 followed by a two-run single in the sixth as Griffins led by a 12-3 margin. Meeks notched an RBI single to shortstop and scored Conte from third.

Starting senior pitcher Devin Foster (Davidsville, Pa./Conemaugh Township) was handed the loss, as he allowed six runs (all earned) on four hits and recorded a strikeout in 1.0 inning. Redshirt sophomore Jackson Miller (Uniontown, Pa./Albert Gallatin) yielded six runs (four earned) on seven hits in 4.2 innings of relief. Starting pitcher Kevin Vaupel tallied the victory after surrendering four runs (all earned) on eight hits and struck out four batters.

The Vulcans return to action on tomorrow, Sunday, March 26, as they host Seton Hill in a league doubleheader at Wild Things Park in Washington, Pennsylvania, starting at 1 p.m.