WASHINGTON, Pa. (March 30) – Behind a pair of complete games by sophomore starting pitchers, the California (PA) baseball team earned a split of a twinbill against No. 25 Seton Hill on Saturday afternoon at Wild Things Park in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play, dropping a 3-1 contest in Game 1 before claiming a 6-1 victory in Game 2.
RECORDS/SERIES
• The Vulcans stand at 17-6 this season behind a 6-2 record in divisional action, tied for first place in the PSAC West standings.
• The Griffins move to 17-9 overall with a 4-4 mark in league play.
• Cal has won six of the last eight meetings against Seton Hill at Wild Things Park dating back to the 2019 campaign.
GAME 1
STATS
• Sophomore
Nathan Holmes (2-1) suffered the loss while tossing the first complete game of his career (12 starts).
• He allowed three runs (all earned) on eight hits over 7.0 innings (107 pitches) with six strikeouts.
• The Vulcans were limited to two hits and five total base runners in the contest.
ACTION
• Cal stranded a pair of runners in scoring position in the first before Seton Hill left a runner on the third in both the second and third innings.
• The Vulcans took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third when senior right fielder
Colby Rockacy, who reached on a leadoff walk, scored on a wild pitch.
• Seton Hill tied the score in the fifth with a two-out RBI single before scoring twice on a two-out double in the top of the seventh.
• Griffin senior Aidan Layton (3-1) posted the complete-game victory, yielding one run (earned) on two hits and one walk in 7.0 innings (76 pitches).
GAME 2
STATS
• Sophomore
Sam Georgiana (3-0) made his fifth career start while earning his first career complete-game victory.
• He surrendered one run (earned) while scattering three hits and zero walks with four strikeouts over 7.0 innings (83 pitches).
• Junior left fielder
Ryan Callahan belted a solo homer and junior second baseman
Santino Marra added a two-run homer and scored twice.
ACTION
• The Vulcans raced out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on the homer by Marra, his second of the year.
• Seton Hill scored on a sacrifice fly in the third before a lightning delay in the bottom of the inning halted the game for 30 minutes.
• The Griffins made a pitching change once play resumed and Callahan later belted a grand slam, 6-1.
• Seton Hill loaded the bases in the top of the fifth before Georgiana handled a comebacker for the final out.
• Griffin starter Andino Vecchiolla (2-3) was saddled with the loss after allowing four runs (all earned) on three hits and two walks in 2.0-plus innings.
NEXT
• Cal returns to action on Tuesday, April 2, when it hosts a single non-conference contest against Fairmont State at Wild Things Park in Washington, Pennsylvania.
