ERIE, Pa. (April 2) – Despite a pair of stellar performances on the mound, the California (PA) baseball team was swept in a doubleheader at Gannon on Sunday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play, suffering a 3-2 loss in Game 1 and dropping a 2-1 contest n Game 2.
With the sweep, the Vulcans drop to 10-11 overall with a 1-7 mark in league play. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights improve to 10-12 behind a 5-3 record in conference action.
In Game 1, the Vulcans gained the upper hand in the second inning when junior shortstop
Brett Bobin (Wampum, Pa./Mohawk) singled and advanced to second on an error as senior catcher
Justin Stewart (Butler, Pa./Butler) scored from second base, 1-0. Over the next three innings, starting freshman pitcher
Nathan Holmes (North Versailles, Pa./East Allegheny) only allowed three hits and Cal maintained a 1-0 edge. Gannon claimed a 3-1 lead in the fifth after a three-run home run by Jared Bielanin. The Golden Knights held the Vulcans hitless in the last four innings.
Stewart went 1-for-2 while scoring a run and drawing a walk. Bobin finished the game 1-for-2 in addition to drawing a walk. Holmes suffered the loss as he yielded three runs (all unearned) on six hits and set a season high with eight strikeouts in 5.0 innings. Gannon starting pitcher Jake Visha earned the win while only surrendering one run (unearned) on two hits and tallied six strikeouts in 6.0 innings.
In Game 2, the Golden Knights claimed an early 2-0 lead after a two-run double to right center in the first inning. In the fourth, sophomore designated hitter
Adam Crawford (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny) cut the deficit to 2-1 after driving in sophomore first baseman
Payton Conte (California, Pa./California) from third base. Gannon relief pitcher Jaret Boyer did not allow a hit in the final three innings of the game.
Crawford went 2-for-3 with an RBI, while sophomores left fielder
Ryan Callahan (Bexley, Ohio/Bexley) and third baseman
Nathan Meeks (New Castle, Pa./Union) with senior right fielder
Colby Rockacy (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks) each recorded a hit. Starting freshman pitcher
Dylan Mathiesen (Coraopolis, Pa./Montour) was dealt the loss aftter allowing two runs (both earned) on five hits while striking out a season-best eight batters over 6.0 innings.
Gannon starting pitcher Jacob Engel collected the win while surrendering one run (earned) on five hits with a trio of strikeouts in 4.0 innings.
The Vulcans are slated to return to non-conference action on Wednesday, April 5, when they travel to face Ohio Dominican in Columbus, Ohio, at 1 p.m.