Cal Totals 13 of 15 Runs in Seventh Innings, Sweeps Ship

April 4, 2005

Game 1 Boxscore | Game 2 Boxscore

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - The California University (Pa.) baseball team won its seventh-straight game Monday afternoon, sweeping a doubleheader from Shippensburg University at Fairchild Field, 8-6 and 7-3. The Vulcans scored 13 of their 15 total runs on the day in the seventh innings of both games.

Trailing 6-0 in game one, California (Pa.) (14-9, 4-0 PSAC West) scored eight runs in the top of the seventh for the improbable come-from-behind victory. The team sent 10 batters to the plate and took the lead on a grand slam home run by Mike Larson, his only hit of the game.
In game two, the Vulcans held a slim 2-1 lead going into the seventh when they scored five runs before holding on for the four-run win.

Junior Nathan Starner (Aspers, Pa./Biglerville) pitched a strong first game before giving up eight runs and six hits in the seventh, including the home run to right center by Larson. Prior to that, Starner allowed only two hits in 6.0 innings while striking out four and holding California (Pa.) scoreless.

Leading 1-0 in the third, Shippensburg (14-17, 0-4 PSAC West) added four runs, two of which were the result of a Cal error. Junior Nick Erdman (Leola, Pa./Conestoga Valley) and junior Jeremy Hess (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) scored Ship’s first two runs Cal throwing error after Shippensburg junior Tyler Wise (Bedford, Pa./Bedford) reached first on a passed ball on what was the third strike.

Wise would score on a RBI-double by junior Scott Goss (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) before junior Eric Perlozzo (Cumberland, Md./Bishop Walsh) scored Goss with a single to right. Erdman singled up the middle in the fourth to score Hess and the Red Raiders led 6-0 after five innings.

Erdman went 3-for-4 with two runs and a RBI in game one while Goss, Perlozzo and Jamie Mengle (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) each went 1-for-3 with one RBI. Starner finished the game allowing eight earned runs while striking out five and allowing three walks.

After a slow start in game two in which neither team could score, the Vulcans scored two in the top of the fourth before a RBI-single by Goss scored Hess in the fifth to cut the California (Pa.) lead in half, 2-1.

However, Cal scored five runs in the seventh, all off sophomore Nathan Jones (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) who entered the game in the fifth in relief of Erdman. Only two of the five runs Jones’ allowed were earned as the Red Raiders committed three errors in the game.

In the seventh. Larson hit a double to left center with one out and the bases loaded that scored three runs as the Vulcans led 7-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh. On the day, Larson totaled seven RBI on just two hits as he went 2-for-7.

Shippensburg managed only two runs in the bottom of the seventh in game, both of them coming on a two out, two-RBI single to left center by sophomore Brandon White (State College, Pa./State College).

Goss was 2-for-3 in the second game with one RBI and went 3-for-6 with two RBI in the doubleheader. Senior Ryan Miscik (Mt. Pleasant, Pa./Mt. Pleasant) was 2-for-4.

The Red Raiders travel to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division rival Kutztown University for a single, nine-inning game on Wednesday. First pitch is at 3:00 p.m.

- Red Raider Baseball -