• Game 1 Box Score
• Game 2 Box Score
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WASHINGTON, Pa. (March 19) – Behind a complete-game performance by junior Randy Sturgill (Leechburg, Pa./Leechburg) in Game 1, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team opened Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play by splitting a doubleheader against Slippery Rock at Ross Memorial Park on Saturday afternoon, winning 9-2 before falling 7-5 in the nightcap.

With the split, the Vulcans move to 11-6 overall this season with a 1-1 mark in league play. Meanwhile, The Rock now holds an 8-8 mark this year with a 1-1 record in divisional action.

In Game 1, Sturgill (5-0) tossed his third complete game of the year in only five starts. He allowed two runs (both earned) on five hits and issued just one walk in 7.0 innings (111 pitches), while recording eight strikeouts on Saturday.

After a scoreless first, Slippery Rock manufactured a run in the second to take a 1-0 lead before the Vulcans responded in the bottom of the second with a RBI single by sophomore catcher Kyle Petty (Stewartsville, N.J./Phillipsburg), 1-1.

Cal U then claimed a 5-1 lead after scoring four runs on five hits in the fourth. Senior first baseman Adam Links (New Hope, Pa./Central Bucks East) started the inning with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt before scoring on a double by senior right fielder Chuck Faust (Hershey, Pa./Hershey). Petty again collected a RBI single and moved to second on a walk by junior designated hitter Kyle Bowser (Stoystown, Pa./North Star). Sophomore second baseman Evan King (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) delivered a RBI single before Bowser scored the final run of the inning of a wild pitch.

Sturgill retired The Rock in order in the fifth and sixth before the Vulcans expanded their lead to 9-1 with four runs in the sixth. With runners on second and third, Cal U scored its first run of the inning on a dropped fly ball before junior center fielder Troy Handza (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler) drove in a run with an infield single. After senior third baseman Aaron Ordy (Butler, Pa./Butler) was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Links tallied a RBI single. Slippery Rock prevented a run with a fielder's choice at home before senior shortstop Casey Teagarden (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) added an RBI infield single.

The Vulcans collected 12 hits in Game 1 with four players posting multi-hit games. Petty led the offensive effort by going 3-for-3 with two RBI and two runs, while Faust collected two hits and scored a pair of runs.

Slippery Rock starter George Hebert (1-2) suffered the loss after allowing five runs (all earned) on seven hits in 4.0 innings (88 pitches).

In the nightcap, Cal U led 5-2 before Slippery Rock scored five runs on six hits and one error in the top of the seventh, 7-5. Petty was saddled with the loss after allowing two runs (one earned) in 0.2 inning, while sophomore starter Tyler Zimm (Fayetteville, W.Va./Oak Hill) took a no-decision after yielding five runs (four earned) in 6.1 innings (92 pitches).

The Rock took an early 1-0 lead in the first before the Vulcans claimed a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth. Teagarden started the two-out rally with a single and Faust followed with a walk before Petty delivered a RBI single to tie the game. Cal U then took the lead when Faust scored on a throwing error before Petty and freshman designated hitter Ben Carson (Coal Center, Pa./California) both scored on a dropped fly ball.

Slippery Rock trimmed the deficit to 4-2 in the fifth before Petty delivered another RBI single in the bottom of the sixth, 5-2. Senior pinch hitter Mitchell Monas opened the seventh with a ground-rule double for The Rock before juniors Derek Carr and Lee Foxton each delivered RBI singles. With runners on the corners and one out, Slippery Rock then scored the game-tying run on a fielding error before shortstop Adam Jury collected a go-ahead, two-run single. The Rock later loaded the bases before Petty struck out the final two batters of the inning.

The trio of Teagarden, Petty and Carson combined for seven of the nine hits by the Vulcans. Teagarden finished 3-for-3 with two runs, while Petty added a pair of hits and RBI in the loss.

Senior Zach Jeney (1-1) earned the win after yielding five runs (two earned) on eight hits in 6.0 innings (105 pitches), while freshman Ryan Oglesby registered his second save of the year after allowing just one hit in the seventh.

The Vulcans return to action tomorrow, Sunday, March 20, with a doubleheader against The Rock at Jack Critchfield Park in Slippery Rock, Pa. The twinbill is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start. Live stats will be available for the games by clicking here.