AUBURNDALE, Pa. (March 8) – The Vulcans split a pair of games on Tuesday as they continued play in Florida at the RussMatt Baseball Invitational, suffering a 13-6 loss to Barry (Fla.) before earning a 10-8 victory against Minnesota State after scoring twice in the ninth inning.

With the split, the California (PA) baseball team moves to 6-4 overall with two more games scheduled this week in The Sunshine State.

Against Minnesota State (9-4), senior catcher Justin Stewart (Butler, Pa./Butler) went 3-for-4 with three RBI and one walk, while sophomore second baseman Santino Marra (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands) recorded a pair of hits, two RBI and three runs scored. Sophomore left fielder Ryan Callahan (Bexley, Ohio/Bexley) finished 2-for-4 with two RBI, one run scored and one walk, plus redshirt freshman center fielder Josh McCleery (Warren, Ohio/Howland) drew two walks and scored one run.

The Mavericks scored a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the first before the Vulcans countered with three runs in the third inning. Cal drew back-to-back walks to start the inning before Marra later collected a two-run double to left center and Callahan followed with an RBI single, 3-2. The Vulcans added to the lead in the fourth with four runs, all unearned, behind four-straight singles, including a two-run single by Stewart to right center.

In the bottom of the fourth, MSU scored on a two-out error before designated hitter Jackson Hauge belted a three-run homer in the fifth to cut the deficit to 8-6. The Mavericks then tied the score in the seventh with two runs on just one hit before leaving the bases loaded. MSU threatened in the eighth with runners on the corners before a ground-out ended the inning.

Cal broke the tie in the top of the ninth by scoring two runs on just one single, 10-8. Marra and Callahan started the inning with back-to-back walks before the Mavericks made a pitching change. Stewart followed with an RBI single to right field before Callahan scored on an error.

Senior David Lee (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) earned the win while allowing just one hit over 2.1 scoreless innings of relief with three strikeouts. Freshman starter Nathan Holmes (North Versailles, Pa./East Allegheny) took a no-decision after yielding six runs (three earned) on four hits with four strikeouts in 4.0 innings.

The Mavericks repeated as Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Champions in 2022 and finished last year with a 39-9 overall record while making their 38th appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

Versus Barry (12-6), Marra collected two hits and three RBI and junior designated hitter Jayden Taitano (Lancaster, Pa./Conestoga Valley) posted a pair of hits off the bench. McCleery again drew a pair of walks and scored two runs.

The Buccaneers raced out to a 3-0 lead in the first before adding a solo homer by second baseman Brandon Sanchez in the second. Barry stretched the lead to 7-0 with three runs in the third before scoring another run in the top of the fourth. In the bottom of the inning, the Vulcans scored on a sacrifice fly before Marra later notched a two-out RBI single up the middle.

Barry scored four runs in the sixth to seize a 12-2 lead before Cal scored twice in the sixth and seventh innings to cut the deficit in half, 12-6. In the seventh, Marra registered an RBI double to left field and the Vulcans later loaded the bases before a double play ended the inning.

Sophomore starter Jaret Muckley (Green, Ohio/Green) suffered the loss after surrendering four runs (all earned) on four hits in just 1.0 inning. Redshirt sophomore Jackson Miller (Uniontown, Pa./Albert Gallatin) logged 4.0 innings in relief and posted three strikeouts in the contest.

The Buccaneers have nearly already equaled their win total from last season and sit among the top-10 teams in the ultra-competitive South Region in the NCBWA regional rankings.

The Vulcans return to action on Thursday, March 9, as they face Minnesota Duluth from the NSIC in Davenport, Florida, at 9:15 a.m.