WASHINGTON, Pa. (April 10) – The Vulcans extended their winning streak to 12 games after sweeping a twinbill against Gannon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action, winning 5-1 and 4-1 on Saturday afternoon at CONSOL Energy Park.
With the victories, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team improves to 23-10 overall this year and 14-2 in league play. Meanwhile, Gannon falls to 17-17 overall with an 11-9 mark in divisional action. The Vulcans have now swept the four-game series with the Golden Knights in each of the last two seasons.
The Vulcans claimed a 5-1 win in Game 1 after freshman Tyler Zimm (Fayetteville, W.Va./Oak Hill) threw a complete game, while classmate Kyle Petty (Stewartsville, N.J./Phillipsburg) registered the final two outs of the nightcap with the bases loaded to earn a save.
Zimm (4-0) tossed his second complete game of the season, allowing one run on five hits and two walks in 7.0 innings, while fanning six. Gannon starter David Hucsko (1-3) surrendered five runs (four earned) on seven hits and two walks in 4.1 innings of work.
The Vulcans took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first after back-to-back two-out RBI doubles by junior first baseman Adam Links (New Hope, Pa./Central Bucks East) and Petty. Gannon cut the deficit in half in the top of the third before Cal U took a 5-1 in lead in the bottom of the inning after scoring three runs on three hits and two errors. Sophomore center fielder Troy Handza (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler) reached base on an error to the start the frame and scored later on a fielding error. Links then followed with a two-run homer, his second of the series and third of the season.
The Golden Knights attempted to trim the deficit in the fourth after having the bases loaded with one out, but Zimm retired the next two batters to preserve the 5-1 lead. He later worked out of trouble without allowing a run in the sixth after Gannon had runners on first and second.
Links went 2-for-3 with a double, homer, three RBI and two runs. Ordy also collected two hits and Handza scored a pair of runs.
In the nighcap, senior starter Ryan Lavrusky (Temple Terrace, Fla./King) earned the win after allowing one run (unearned) on two hits and seven walks. He also recorded six strikeouts and forced the Golden Knights to leave eight runners on base, including the bases loaded twice. Petty, who caught the entire first game, threw 2.0 scoreless innings of relief with four strikeouts.
After the two teams exchanged runs in the first, the Vulcans took a 2-1 lead in the third after manufacturing a run. Senior right fielder Sam DiMatteo (Center, Pa./Center) started the inning with a bunt single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. After stealing third, he scored on a groundout by Links. Cal U expanded its lead in the fourth when junior left fielder Sean Welsh (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East) lined a RBI triple before scoring on a groundout.
Golden Knight senior Greg Radwan (5-2) was saddled with the loss after allowing four runs (all earned) on six hits.
DiMatteo went 2-for-2 with two runs and three steals, becoming the first player in school history with 100-plus career steals (101). Welsh also collected two hits and Links posted a pair of RBI.
The Vulcans return to action on Wednesday, April 14, when they host a nine-inning game against Seton Hill at CONSOL Energy Park, beginning at 1 p.m.