WASHINGTON, Pa. (April 7) – The Vulcans opened their weekend Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West series versus Slippery Rock with a doubleheader sweep at Wild Things Park on Friday afternoon, earning a 6-1 victory in Game 1 followed by a 5-3 win in Game 2.

With the sweep, the California (PA) baseball team improves to 12-11 overall with a 3-7 record in league action. The Vulcans last earned a sweep of a twinbill against The Rock in the 2019 campaign. Meanwhile, Slippery Rock drops to 13-12 this season behind a 2-8 mark in conference contests.

In Game 1, sophomore second baseman Santino Marra (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands) blasted a first-pitch triple in the bottom of the first followed by sophomore left fielder Ryan Callahan (Bexley, Ohio/Bexley) notching a double down left-field line as the Vulcans claimed a 1-0 lead. In the second inning, Cal extended its advantage to 2-0 when senior designated hitter David Lee (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) scored on a wild pitch. A single to right center from Marra stretched the Cal edge to 3-0 before senior right fielder Colby Rockacy (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks) crossed home plate on an error to make it 4-0.

In the top of the third, The Rock countered  with a sacrifice fly to center field to cut the deficit to 4-1. Following a single to left center by sophomore first baseman Payton Conte (California, Pa./California), Lee hustled out an RBI triple to left center, 5-1. Sophomore Adam Crawford (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny) drove in Lee on a bunt to push the advantage to 6-1 in the third. Starting sophomore pitcher Roman Gill (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell) held Slippery Rock to only three hits over the remaining four innings, as he earned the complete-game victory while surrendering one run (earned) on six hits with a pair of strikeouts.

Marra went 3-for-3 with an RBI while drawing a walk and Callahan finished 2-for-4 with an RBI. Lee went 2-for-4 with an RBI and scored two runs, while Conte and Rockacy each tallied a hit.

Slippery Rock starting pitcher Devin Dunn, a consensus all-region selection in 2022, was dealt the loss as he yielded six runs (five earned) on eight hits in 2.2 innings.

During Game 2, Cal was once again able to take an early lead in the first inning as Lee registered a two-run single up the middle. The Rock countered with an RBI-double in the third, 2-1. Senior catcher JRustin Stewart (Butler, Pa./Butler) gave Cal a 3-1 edge on a RBI ground-out to shortstop. In the fourth inning, Slippery Rock trimmed the deficit to 3-2 after a home run by Evan Knaus. Marra posted a sacrifice fly to left field in the fourth as Crawford scored from third base followed by Conte scoring on an infield error in the fifth, 5-2. The Rock trailed 5-3 after an RBI single to center field in the seventh. As Slippery Rock had runners on second and third with two outs, a pop-up by Alex Robenolt to first base ended the game.

Callahan notched a pair of hits with two runs scored, while Stewart went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Lee finished 2-for-3 and recorded an RBI. Starting redshirt sophomore pitcher Jackson Miller (Uniontown, Pa./Albert Gallatin) posted the win as he allowed two runs (both earned) on five hits and tied a career best with five strikeouts in 4.0 innings. Freshman relief pitcher Jake Kramer (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) collected the save – his second of the season – as he recorded the final out on one pitch.

The Vulcans return to action tomorrow, Saturday, April 8, as they travel to conclude their weekend series versus Slippery Rock with a PSAC West doubleheader, starting at 1 p.m.