JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (May 1) – Junior
Jake Kramer broke the all-time Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) record for saves and classmate
Michael Valente tied the single-season school record for wins on Thursday afternoon, as the California (PA) baseball team split a twinbill at Pitt-Johnstown in PSAC West play with a 2-1 victory in Game 1 and a 7-6 loss in Game 2.
NOTES
• The Vulcans (33-10, 18-7) have split the last three road doubleheaders in the series with the Mountain Cats.
• Cal sits one game back of first place in the win column in the PSAC West standings.
• Kramer registered his 25th career save in Game 1, breaking the previous mark held by Eric Eckert of Millersville (1997-00).
• He has posted at least six saves in each of his three years with the program, shattering the previous school record of 16 saves held by Dave Yasenchak (1980-83).
• Valente joins Randy Sturgill (2011) as the only pitchers in school history with double-digit victories in a season.
• He is one of only two players in NCAA Division II this year with an unblemished record with at least 10 wins.
GAME 1
• Valente (10-0) earned the victory after yielding one run (earned) on five hits and zero walks with four strikeouts over 6.0 innings (59 pitches).
• He was worked at least 6.0 innings in each of his last five starts while allowing less than two runs four times during that span.
• Kramer retired the Mountain Cats in order in the bottom of the seventh.
• UPJ took a 1-0 lead in the second on a solo homer by first baseman Devon Boyles.
• The Vulcans capitalized on a two-out error in the top of the top of the third when senior left fielder
Ryan Callahan belted a two-run homer, his eighth of the year.
• Cal later stranded a runner on third base in both the fifth and seventh innings.
GAME 2
• The Vulcans trailed 6-1 before scoring five runs on just two hits in the top of the seventh to the score.
• UPJ then earned a 7-6 walk-off victory with the winning run scoring on a wild pitch.
• Junior first baseman
Colin Patterson finished with two hits and three RBI, while freshman shortstop
Peyton Ford posted two hits and one run scored.
• Cal took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a two-out RBI double by Patterson.
• The Mountain Cats responded with two runs in both the second and third to take a 4-1 lead, highlighted by a two-run homer from center fielder Justin Turcovski.
• UPJ added to the lead with a two-run single in the bottom of the fifth, 6-1.
• The Vulcans scored on a bases-loaded hit by pitch before Patterson followed with a two-run double.
• Cal later tied the score with back-to-back RBI ground-outs on Friday.
• The Mountain Cats started the bottom of the seventh with a four-pitch walk before a single placed runners on the corners.
• The trail runner moved into scoring position on a steal before a wild pitch allowed the winning run to score.
• Sophomore
Josh Bryson took a no-decision in his first career start, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits in 3.1 innings (51 pitches).
NEXT
• The Vulcans return to action tomorrow, Friday, May 2, when they host Pitt-Johnstown for a doubleheader on Senior Day at EQT Park, starting at 1 p.m.
