WASHINGTON (March 22) – The California (PA) baseball team posted a doubleheader split against Pitt-Johnstown on Sunday afternoon at EQT Park in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action, suffering a 3-2 loss in Game 1 before earning a 5-0 win in Game 2.
NOTES
• The Vulcans (12-6, 3-1) won three of four in the series against the Mountain Cats for the fifth time in the last six years.
• The Cal pitching staff posted a 2.25 ERA over the four-game series this weekend after allowing only seven earned runs in 28.0 inning pitched.
• The Vulcans out-scored the Mountain Cats by a 25-8 margin behind four home runs.
GAME 1
• Cal held a 2-1 lead entering the top of the seventh before UPJ scored two runs on two singles, a hit by pitch and an error.
• The Vulcans used five pitchers in the contest with sophomore
Ben Barr working 2.2 scoreless innings of relief.
• Junior
Ryan Sluk (0-2) suffered the loss after allowing two runs (one earned) in 0.1 inning.
• UPJ took a 1-0 lead in the fourth on a two-out double before the inning ended on a rundown between third and home.
• The Vulcans tied the score in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI infield single by freshman center fielder
Charlie Nigut, 1-1.
• Cal took a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning on a solo homer by senior right fielder
Connor Evans, his second of the year.
• In the seventh, the Mountain Cats loaded the bases on two singles and a hit by pitch with one out.
• UPJ then tied the score on a fielder's choice and a throwing error on a double-play attempt allowed the game-winning run to score, 3-2.
GAME 2
• Senior
Roman Gill and freshman
Nate Persinger combined to scatter just three hits in the shutout victory.
• Gill (2-1) allowed two hits and one walk in 4.0 scoreless innings (53 pitches), while Persinger scattered one hit and two walk in 3.0 innings of relief.
• The Vulcans took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth on five singles with RBI singles by junior left fielder
Ikon Jones, sophomore shortstop Brandon-McClain-Banks and junior third baseman
Caleb Collins.
• Cal added a pair of insurance runs with two outs in the sixth on an RBI double by redshirt freshman designated hitter
Chad Helwich and an RBI single by sophomore second baseman
Peyton Ford.
• Jones finished with two hits, one RBI, one run scored and one steal, while junior catcher
Kyle Rizzo added a pair of hits.
NEXT
• The Vulcans return to action on Tuesday, March 24, when they host a single nine-inning contest against Point Park at EQT Park.
• Cal and Point Park will face each other a second time this spring on April 9 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Tickets for the game are available now.