GREENSBURG, Pa. – The Vulcans posted a doubleheader split with a pair of one-run games at No. 25 Seton Hill in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action on Friday afternoon, claiming a 3-2 win in Game 1 before suffering a 6-5 extra-inning loss in Game 2 after tying the score with three runs in the sixth.
RECORDS/SERIES
• The California (PA) baseball team moves to 16-5 overall with a 5-1 mark in league play.
• The Griffins stand at 16-8 this season behind a 3-3 record in divisional action.
• Seton Hill swept the regular-season series last spring, plus earned a victory over Cal in the 2023 PSAC Tournament.
GAME 1
STATS
• Junior designated hitter
Payton Conte tallied two hits, including a solo homer – his third of the year.
• Senior right fielder
Colby Rockacy posted a pair of hits with a solo homer and two runs scored.
• Freshman shortstop
Caleb Collins finished with two hits and pair of runs scored from the leadoff spot.
• Freshman
Beau Bigam (1-0) earned his first career victory after yielding one run (earned) on four hits in 5.0 innings (82 pitches).
• Sophomore
Jake Kramer registered his sixth save of the season after working 2.0 innings of relief.
• He surrendered his first run of the year after previously logging 14.0 innings of scoreless relief in nine appearances.
• Additionally, Kramer is now tied with Ian Heisel (2001-05) for second all-time in program history with 12 saves.
ACTION
• The Griffins stranded a pair of runners in scoring position in the bottom of the first before the teams traded solo homers in the second inning.
• Cal then took a 2-1 lead in the third on a solo homer by Rockacy before leaving a runner at third base.
• The Vulcans added an insurance run in the top of the fifth when Rockacky scored on an RBI single by junior second baseman
Santino Marra.
• Seton Hill opened the sixth with a double and the runner advanced to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a sacrifice fly, 3-2.
• The Griffins again started the seventh inning with a double before Kramer forced the game-tying run to remain in scoring position.
• Seton Hill senior Brandon Bergert (1-1), a consensus all-region selection in 2023, was saddled with the loss after allowing three runs (two earned) on nine hits in 7.0 innings (89 pitches).
GAME 2
STATS
• Sophomore third baseman
Conor Carney finished with two hits and three RBI, his third multi-RBI game in the last two-plus weeks.
• Junior left fielder
Ryan Callahan tallied a pair of hits and scored twice, while Rockacy belted his second solo homer of the day.
• Freshman
Josh Bryson (1-1) suffered the loss after allowing one run (unearned) in 3.1 innings of relief (56 pitches).
• Sophomore starter
Michael Valente took a no-decision after yielding five runs (one earned) on eight hits in 4.0 innings (59 pitches).
ACTION
• The Griffins raced out to a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first behind a three-run homer by catcher Jakob Haynes.
• Cal plated one run on a sacrifice fly in the second before Rockacy tallied a solo homer to leadoff the third, 5-2.
• Seton Hill stranded a runner on third base in both the third and fourth innings against Valente.
• The Vulcans tied the score at 5-5 after four-straight batters reached safely in the top of the sixth.
• Carney delivered a two-run double with the bases loaded before Cal scored on a squeeze bunt.
• The Griffins capitalized on an error with one out in the bottom of the eighth and later scored the walk-off run on a double.
• Seton Hill reliever Christian Zilli (2-0) claimed the win after tossing 2.1 innings of scoreless relief.
NEXT
• Cal is scheduled to continue the series against No. 25 Seton Hill tomorrow, Saturday, March 30, with a doubleheader at Wild Things Park in Washington, Pennsylvania, starting at 1 p.m.
