WASHINGTON, Pa. - The Seton Hill University baseball team split games one and two of this weekend's four-game series against California University of Pennsylvania, defeated the Vulcans, 5-2, in game one before falling in the second game, 9-4.
The split moves the Griffins to 17-11 on the year, 4-6 in the PSAC. California (PA) stays even at 12-12 on the year, 6-4 in conference play.
The Griffins scored one in the second as
Tom McCarthy's sacrifice fly scored
Austin Braendel to give SHU an early 1-0 lead. In the third, Braendel hit a 2 RBI double to left field, scoring
Craig Lewis and
Bayley Jamanis to put SHU ahead, 3-0. Seton Hill would increase their lead to 4-0 in the third when a throw by Vulcan catcher attempting to catch
Ryan Wardropper went awry, allowing
Tom McCarthy to steal home from third. After the Cal broke the scoring drought with two runs in the third, Seton Hill would add an insurance run in the sixth when
Tyler Sullivan got an RBI single to center field, scoring Adam Fertia.
Junior hurler
Perry DellaValle (2-0) went all 7.0 innings for the Griffins, allowing two runs (two earned) on two hits and striking out four. Carter Krick was given the loss, lasting 5.2 innings and giving up five earned runs on seven hits.
Austin Braendel led the Griffins offense in game one, going 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two RBI's.Â
California (PA) took an early lead in the second game, scoring one in the first, but Seton Hill would score two in the second to take a 2-1 lead.
Bayley Jamanis would reach on a fielder's choice to shortstop while
Tom McCarthy rounded third and scored on the throw. scored on the throw to make it 1-1. During the next at-bat, Jarret Peters would strike out swinging, but the pitch was wild, allowing Fertia to score and giving SHU a 2-1 lead.
However, California would end retaking the lead with a six-run second inning to make it 7-2 in favor of the home team. Seton Hill would score two more in the third when Fertia homered to left field, scoring McCarthy, but the Vulcans would score a run in the fourth and fifth and cruise to the win.
Zack Martinelli (3-3) was saddled with the loss, lasting just 3.2 innings on the mound and surrendering eight runs (all earned) while walking three. Andre Jones picked up the win for Cal.
Tom McCarthy was 3-for-4 in the game with two runs scored, while Adam Fertia went 2-for-2 with a homer and two RBI's with two runs scored.
The two teams will play games three and four in Greensburg on Sunday. Game three is scheduled for a 1:00 PM start.
