INDIANA, Pa. (April 15) – The Vulcans swept a doubleheader at IUP in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action on Saturday afternoon, posting a 7-5 victory in Game 1 before notching a 6-1 win in Game 2 to win the season series.

With the sweep, the California (PA) baseball team improves to 16-14 overall behind a 7-9 record in league play. The Vulcans are now tied for third in the PSAC West standings through four weekends of divisional action. Meanwhile, the Crimson Hawks fall to 15-22 this season with a 7-9 mark in conference action.

In Game 1, the Vulcans rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the top of the fifth as senior designated hitter David Lee (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) led off the inning with a triple to right field and scored on a throwing error that allowed sophomore first baseman Payton Conte (California, Pa./California) to reach safely, 3-1. Another error by the IUP infield allowed a pair of runs to score as the game was tied 3-3. Junior shortstop Brett Bobin (Wampum, Pa./Mohawk) gave Cal a 4-3 advantage after an RBI single through the left side to drive in freshman right fielder Jake Walker (West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin).

In the top of the sixth, the Vulcans extended the lead first from a double by Conte to score Lee before senior center fielder Colby Rockacy (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks) blasted a two-run double to left field to make it a 7-3 contest. The Crimson Hawks trimmed the deficit to 7-5 after a two-run homer to dead-center field, however, IUP was held in check as Cal maintained its lead.

Lee finished the game 2-for-3 with a pair of runs, while Bobin recorded a hit with an RBI. Rockacy went 1-for-2 and drove in a pair of runs with Conte going 1-for-2 as he scored two runs and notched an RBI.

Freshman relief pitcher Sam Georgiana (Canonsburg, Pa./Seton LaSalle) earned the win as he allowed two runs (both earned) on three hits and struck out three batters in 2.1 innings. Freshman starting pitcher Nathan Holmes (North Versailles, Pa./East Allegheny) was dealt a no-decision while yielding three runs (all earned) on three hits and registering three strikeouts in 4.0 innings. Freshman Jake Kramer (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) posted his fourth save of the season as he retired the final two batters on fly-outs.

IUP starting pitcher Jimmy Tooley was handed the loss, as he allowed six runs (three earned) on five hits with five strikeouts in 5.1 innings.

In Game 2, IUP claimed an early 1-0 advantage after an RBI single through the left side. In the third inning, Bobin tied the game at 1-1 following a single up the middle that scored Rockacy from second base. A passed ball from the Crimson Hawks gave Cal a 2-1 edge in the fourth inning as Lee scored. In the fifth inning, the Vulcans stretched the lead to 5-1 after a trio of bases-loaded walks before a hit by pitch gave Cal a 6-1 lead. From the bottom of fifth through the sixth, IUP was held hitless as the game was called in the top of the seventh due to weather conditions.

Sophomore second baseman Santino Marra (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands) went 2-for-4 and Bobin tallied two hits and an RBI. Lee notched a pair of hits and scored twice, while Rockacy went 1-for-2 with one run and an RBI.

Freshman starting pitcher Dylan Mathiesen (Coraopolis, Pa./Montour) collected the win while surrendering one run (unearned) on four hits and registering six strikeouts in 6.0 innings. IUP starting pitcher Derrick Shields suffered the loss while allowing four runs (one earned) on eight hits and struck out six batters in 4.2 innings.

The Vulcans return to action on Tuesday, April 18, as they travel to face Fairmont State in non-conference action.