• Game 1 Box Score
• Game 2 Box Score
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WASHINGTON, Pa. (April 27) – Behind a complete-game victory by freshman Justin Taylor (Julian, Pa./Bald Eagle) in Game 2 on Friday afternoon,  the Vulcans took a doubleheader split against Slippery Rock at CONSOL Energy Park to clinch a berth in next week's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament, falling 7-1 before winning 3-2.

With the split, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team moves to 25-21 overall with a 12-10 mark in divisional play. Meanwhile, Slippery Rock stands at 23-22-1 this season behind an 11-11 record in league action. The Vulcans currently hold a 1.0-game lead over The Rock for third place in the standings with two games left in the regular season, while two teams are tied for fifth place at 9-13.

In Game 2, Taylor improved to 4-1 this season after allowing two runs (both earned) on five hits and one walk in 7.0 innings (103 pitches). He registered seven strikeouts against The Rock and allowed just one base runner to advance into scoring position through the first four innings. Taylor lowered his team-leading ERA to 2.70 and tossed his third complete game of the season on Friday.

The Vulcans manufactured a run in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead. Sophomore left fielder Ben Carson (Coal Center, Pa./California) opened the inning with a walk and advanced to third on a wild pitch and sacrifice bunt. Senior catcher JB Sapenza (La Plata, Md./La Plata) then delivered a two-out RBI single through the left side. In the second, junior first baseman AJ Robinson (Milesburg, Pa./Bald Eagle) lined a double down the left-field line before scoring on a two-out RBI single by sophomore designated hitter Chuck Gasti (Carmichaels, Pa./Carmichaels), 2-0. Cal U added another run in the third on a sacrifice fly by senior center fielder Troy Handza (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler) after back-to-back singles and a wild pitch moved two runners into scoring position.

Slippery Rock executed a double steal of second and home in the fifth before scoring another run in the sixth after back-to-back hits with two outs, 3-2. In the seventh, Taylor retired The Rock in order to seal the win and clinch the post-season berth.

Sapienza finished with two of the team's five hits, going 2-for-2 with one RBI and one walk while batting cleanup.

In Game 1, junior Kyle Petty (Stewartsville, N.J./Phillipsburg) suffered the loss after surrendering seven runs (four earned) on nine hits and three walks in 7.0 innings (124 pitches). Rock senior Zach Jeney earned the complete-game victory, yielding one run (earned) on three hits with nine strikeouts in 7.0 innings.

After Slippery Rock took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, Cal U answered with a run in the bottom of the inning without collecting a hit. The Vulcans drew three-straight walks to load the bases before Gasti scored on a fielder's choice, 1-1.

The Rock took a 2-1 lead in the fourth with a two-out RBI single before scoring four runs in the fifth after the Vulcans committed a two-out error. Slippery Rock then added an insurance run in the sixth to take a 7-1 lead.

Despite being limited to three hits in the loss, Cal U drew seven walks with two by both Petty and Carson.

Cal U concludes the regular season tomorrow, April 28, with a doubleheader at Slippery Rock, starting at 1 p.m. Live stats of the games will be available by clicking here.