SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. (March 30) – The Vulcans split a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West doubleheader with Slippery Rock, falling 9-8 before winning 14-6, on Tuesday afternoon at Jack Critchfield Park.

With the split, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team moves to 11-12 overall and 8-4 in PSAC West play. Meanwhile, Slippery Rock moves to 11-12 overall behind a 4-8 mark in league action.

In Game 1, Slippery Rock jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a two-run single from Alex Bell. Cal U took the lead in the top of the third after the inning opened with back-to-back singles from junior left fielder Jared Grove (Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim) and redshirt freshman third baseman Levi Krause (East Berlin, Pa./Spring Grove). Senior catcher Will Kaufman (Roanoke, Va./Patrick Henry) then singled home Grove before sophomore center fielder Mick Fennell (Butler, Pa./Butler) tied the game at 2-2 with an RBI single to center. After a walk loaded the bases, a sacrifice fly by senior shortstop Matt Peters (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) scored Kaufman before junior first baseman David Marcus (Whitby, Ontario/Father Leo J. Austin) hit a three-run home run to push the lead to 6-2.

Cal U increased its lead to 7-2 in the top of the third when Grove scored from third base on an error. Slippery Rock answered back and cut the lead to 7-6 on two home runs and a pair of run-scoring singles in the bottom of the third. Slippery Rock tied the game at 7-7 on an RBI single by Bell in the bottom of the fourth before Marcus hit his second homer of the game in the top of the fifth, 8-7. The Rock retook the lead for good in the bottom of the inning on a two-run single by shortstop Jake Nogalo, 9-8.

Marcus finished 2-for-3 with two homers, four RBI and two runs scored. Fennell was 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored, while Krause and Grove each tallied two hits.

Cal U junior Cory Craig (Youngsville, Pa./Youngsville) took the loss after allowing three runs (all earned) on three hits and two walks in 2.0 innings.

In Game 2, Cal U jumped out to a 3-0 lead after one inning before Slippery Rock countered with six runs in the bottom of the second on three homers. The Vulcans regained the lead at 9-6 in the top of the fourth on a homer by Kaufman, an RBI double by sophomore second baseman Danny McGrath (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional), a Marcus RBI single, a single from freshman right fielder Chris Wastchak (Peters Twp., Pa. /Peters Township) and a wild pitch. The Vulcans plated a run in the top of the fifth before opening up the game in the top of the seventh. In the seventh, Peters delivered a nine-pitch RBI single to right field before Marcus hit a three-run homer to right field to seal the 14-6 win.

Marcus finished 2-for-4 with a home run, five RBI, three runs scored and a walk. Fennell went 3-for-5 with two runs scored, while McGrath, Wastchak and Grove each tallied two hits and scored a combined five runs.

Sophomore Alex Ziegler (Butler, Pa./Butler) earned the win after tossing 1.2 innings of one-hit relief, while Fennell registered the save after pitching 3.1 scoreless innings. Garret Peterson took the loss for Slippery Rock after allowing four runs (all earned) on three hits without recording an out.

Cal U continues PSAC West play on Friday, April 3, when it travels to face IUP in a doubleheader at 1 p.m.