WASHINGTON, Pa. (April 14) – Sophomore second baseman Santino Marra (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands) delivered a walk-off single in Game 2 on Friday afternoon, as the California (PA) baseball team split a twinbill against IUP at Wild Things Park in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play, suffering a 1-0 loss in Game 1 before collecting a 4-3 victory in Game 2.

With the split, the Vulcans move to 14-14 this season with a 5-9 mark in conference action. Cal has now posted an 11-2 record against IUP at Wild Things Park since the 2017 campaign. Meanwhile, the Crimson Hawks stand at 15-20 overall behind a 7-7 record in league contests.

In Game 2, the Vulcans tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh when a throwing error allowed freshman first baseman Conor Carney (Harmony, Pa./Seneca Valley) to score from second base. Marra then blasted a walk-off single down the left-field line to score senior Colby Rockacy (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks) from second for the game-winning run, 4-3.

The Vulcans claimed an early lead in the first inning when senior catcher Justin Stewart (Butler, Pa./Butler) drove in Marra from third on an RBI single up the middle. IUP answered with a two-run triple in the top of the fourth to grasp a 2-1 edge. The Crimson Hawks later extended their lead to 3-1 with an RBI single to right center in the fifth inning. Junior shortstop Brett Bobin (Wampum, Pa./Mohawk) trimmed the deficit to 3-2 when his single up the middle brought in Marra from second base.

Marra finished the game 3-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored, while Bobin went 2-for-2 with one RBI

Freshman Michael Valente (Wallingford, Pa./Strath Haven) earned the win after allowing zero runs on two hits while registering two strikeouts in 1.2 innings of relief. Redshirt sophomore starting pitcher Jackson Miller (Uniontown, Pa./Albert Gallatin) was dealt a no-decision, as he surrendered three runs (all earned) on five hits in 4.1 innings. IUP starting pitcher Mark Edeburn was handed the loss after allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits over 6.0 innings (84 pitches).

In Game 1, the Vulcans threatened in the bottom of the first with runners at the corners and two outs before a ground-out ended the inning. From the bottom of the second to the top of the fourth inning, both starting pitchers held the teams hitless. In the top of the seventh, the Crimson Hawks were able to score the game's lone run on back-to-back doubles to take a 1-0 advantage. Senior designated hitter David Lee (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) lined a single to center field to begin the bottom half of the seventh before Cal was then retired in order.

Lee finished the game 2-for-3, as the Vulcans were limited to five total hits.

Sophomore starting pitcher Roman Gill (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell) suffered the loss despite yielding one run (earned) on four hits and tallied four strikeouts in 7.0 innings (84 pitches). IUP starting pitcher Jeremiah Williams notched the win after scattering five hits over 6.0-plus scoreless innings (66 pitches). Reliever Paul Tripi collected the save behind a pair of strikeouts in the seventh.

The Vulcans are set return to action tomorrow, Saturday, April 15, when they travel to IUP to conclude their weekend series with a PSAC West doubleheader at 1 p.m.