WASHINGTON, Pa. (Feb. 22) – The Wheeling University baseball team was defeated twice by California University of Pennsylvania Saturday afternoon at Wild Things Park in a non-conference doubleheader.
 
THE MATCHUP

• Game 1: Cal U 4, Wheeling 3 (F/7)
• Game 2: Cal U 2, Wheeling 0 (F/7)
• Records: Wheeling 2-2 | Cal U 2-0
• Location: Wild Things Park | Washington, Pennsylvania

GAME 1: Cal U 4, Wheeling 3
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Vulcans got a big two-out, two-RBI double to take a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
• Cal U took advantage of an error to start the third and another extra-base hit extended the Cardinal deficit to 3-0.
• Wheeling got its first hit and run of the game in the top of the fourth inning when junior shortstop Connor Watt (Roanoke, Va./Glenvar) tripled and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by third baseman Luis Dominguez (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) to make the score 3-1.
• The Vulcans got the run back with a sac fly of their own in the bottom of the fourth to rebuild their lead to 4-1.
• Sophomore first baseman Lucas Rawlins (Pickerington, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) came through with a clutch two-out RBI-single in the sixth inning to make the score 4-2 heading into the final frame.
• Wheeling was down to its final out when junior center fielder Jack Skantze (Clearwater, Fla./Countryside) reached on an error to extend the game.
• Watt followed with an RBI-double to make the score 4-3 and place the game-tying run in scoring position.
• After a four-pitch walk put two runner on base, Dominguez came to the plate and put a charge into a ball to left field, but it wasn't hit deep enough and the Vulcans held on for the win.

GAME NOTES

• Senior pitcher Josh Bell (Apollo, Pa./Kiski Area) fell to 1-1 on the season. He threw five innings and allowed four runs (two earned) on four hits with four strikeouts.
• Watt led the team at the plate with two extra-base hits and one RBI.
• Cal U starting pitcher Nick Riggle went six innings and struck out five to earn the win. Riggle led the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region with a 2.43 ERA last season.

GAME 2: Cal U 2, Wheeling 0
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Cardinals were held off of the scoreboard by a familiar face in the team's 2-0 loss to close the day out.
• The Vulcans took advantage of a pair of passed balls and scored on a two-out single to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
• Cal U added to its lead in the fourth to make the score 2-0.
• The Cardinals put a runner in scoring position in four different innings, but were unable to deliver the clutch hit to bring any runs across.

GAME NOTES

• Senior pitcher Tanner Evans (Bergholz, Ohio/Edison Local) was saddled with the loss. Evans (1-1) threw 4.1 innings and yielded just two runs (one earned) on five hits with a trio of strikeouts.
• Dominguez ended the game 2-for-3 at the plate with a double to lead the Wheeling offense.
• Former Cardinal pitcher Zach Rohaley, who transferred to Cal U, picked up the win on the mound after throwing six-scoreless innings and striking out eight.

UP NEXT

• The Cardinals and Vulcans will play one more game tomorrow, Sunday, February 23 at Wild Things Park.
• The nine-inning contest is slated to begin at 1 p.m.