• Game 1 Box Score
• Game 2 Box Score

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. (April 28) – The California University of Pennsylvania baseball team secured third place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West standings with a doubleheader split at Slippery Rock on Saturday afternoon, winning 3-1 before falling 4-0.

With the split, the Vulcans finish the regular season with a 26-22 overall record behind a 13-11 mark in league play. By earning the third seed from the West, Cal U will now face Shippensburg in the third game of the PSAC Tournament at Pullman Park on Wednesday, May 2, at 3:30 p.m. Meanwhile, Slippery Rock clinched a berth in the tournament by finishing the regular season at 24-23-1 with a 12-12 league record.

In Game 1, freshman starter GJ Senchak (New Castle, Pa./New Castle) earned the win after limiting The Rock to one run (unearned) on three hits in 6.0 innings. Senior Jim Kirker (Bridgeville, Pa./ South Fayette) recorded his third save of the season after tossing a scoreless seventh inning. Rock starter Lou Trivino (8-3) suffered the loss after allowing three runs (all earned) on six hits and three walks in 5.2 innings.

The Vulcans took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first after collecting three singles. Sophomore left fielder Ben Carson (Coal Center, Pa./California) and freshman shortstop Matt Peters (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) opened the game with back-to-back singles before junior designated hitter JB Sapienza (La Plata, Md./La Plata) collected an RBI single. Cal U added to its lead in the second inning with a solo homer by junior first baseman AJ Robinson (Milesburg, Pa./Bald Eagle), 2-0.

In the third, Slippery Rock cut the deficit to 2-1 with a two-out single following a two-base error. Cal U added an insurance run in the top of the sixth when senior center fielder Troy Handza (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler) scored on a wild pitch, 3-1.

With their positioning already clinched, the Vulcans used three pitchers in Game 2. Junior starter Kyle Thomas (Munhall, Pa./Steel Valley) was saddled with the loss after allowing two runs (both earned) on three hits in 2.0 innings. Slippery Rock junior Nic McCowin (3-2) earned the win after tossing 6.1 scoreless innings and sophomore Ryan Oglesby registered the save.

The Rock took a 2-0 lead after collecting three singles in the second. Cal U advanced runners to third base in both the third and fifth innings before McCowin worked out of the situations without allowing a run. Slippery Rock scored a run in the fifth on a wild pitch before first baseman John Shaffer posted a solo homer, 4-0. In the top of the seventh, the Vulcans loaded the bases before Oglesby induced a game-ending double play.

Cal U opens play at the PSAC Tournament on Wednesday, May, 2, at Pullman Park when it faces Shippensburg at 3:30 p.m. The Vulcans won both meetings against the Raiders last year, including a 13-6 victory in the PSAC Tournament. Last season, Cal U posted a 9-3 record at Pullman Park while artificial surface was being installed at CONSOL Energy Park.