ERIE, Pa. (March 28) – Led by a multi-homer game from senior
Payton Conte, the Vulcans posted a split of a road doubleheader against Gannon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play on Friday afternoon with a 6-3 victory in Game 1 and a 6-1 loss in Game 2.
NOTES
• The California (PA) baseball team (16-4, 4-1) played its first road doubleheader of the season.
• The Vulcans and Golden Knights have split five of the last six doubleheaders at McConnell Family Stadium.
• Conte registered the first multi-homer for the program since last April.
GAME 1
• The Vulcans scored a pair of runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to earn the 6-3 victory.
• Conte posted a pair of homers and three RBI in the win, while junior right fielder
Connor Evans tallied three hits and one run scored.
• Senior designated hitter
James Salvatori collected two hits, two RBI and one run scored.
• Cal broke a 1-1 tie with a solo homer by Conte in the third before Gannon scored twice in the bottom of the fourth to take a 3-2 lead.
• Conte belted a two-run homer in the fifth before the Vulcans scored twice in the sixth inning, 6-3.
• Junior
Michael Valente (5-0) earned the win after allowing three runs (all earned) over 5.0 innings.
• Classmate
Jake Kramer recorded his fifth save of the year after working 1.1 innings of scoreless relief.
• He is now tied with Mike McCardell (2004-07) of Kutztown for third all-time in PSAC history with 21 saves.
GAME 2
• Cal was limited to one run for just the second time this spring in a 6-1 loss.
• The Golden Knights took the lead in the first on a solo homer before scoring three runs in the second inning.
• Cal manufactured its run in the third before Gannon answered with one run in the bottom of the inning.
• The Golden Knights added an insurance run in the fifth on a fielding error, 6-1.
• Senior
Jackson Miller (3-1) suffered the loss after surrendering five runs (four earned) on nine hits in 4.0 innings.
NEXT
• The Vulcans continue the series with the Golden Knights with a home doubleheader at EQT Park in Washington, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, March 30, at 1 p.m.