WASHINGTON, Pa. (April 12) – The California University of Pennsylvania baseball team claimed a doubleheader split on Tuesday afternoon against Slippery Rock at CONSOL Energy Park in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action, losing 3-2 on a walk-off homer before posting an 11-7 win.

With the split, the Vulcans move to 19-13 overall behind a 12-4 mark in divisional play. Meanwhile, The Rock stands at 8-27 this season with a 3-13 record in league action.

In Game 2, Cal U scored 11 runs on just six hits and drew 18 walks, including four with the bases loaded, and also benefited from four errors. Sophomore second baseman Garrett Brooks (Connellsville, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, two walks and two steals, while senior center fielder Mick Fennell (Butler, Pa./Butler) finished with three RBI, two runs scored, three walks and three stolen bases.

The Vulcans manufactured a run in the top of the first before The Rock answered in the second inning with a solo homer by first baseman Alex Bell. In the fourth, Cal U took a 2-1 lead when sophomore right fielder Chris Wastchak (Peters Twp., Pa./Peters Township) delivered a two-out single that scored Fennell from second. Slippery Rock countered with four runs in the bottom of the inning before a baserunner was thrown out at home attempting to score on a ground ball to second while the infield was playing in.

In the fifth, Cal U loaded the bases with back-to-back singles and a walk with one out. Junior Joe Yourgal (Millersville, Pa./Lancaster Catholic), who was the starting pitcher, then drew a bases-loaded walk before Fennell lined a three-run double down the left-field line and advanced to third on a fielding error that also allowed Yourgal to score from first. The Rock again answered with two runs in the bottom half before a double play ended the inning and forced Slippery Rock to leave a runner at third base.

The Vulcans took the final lead change of the game in top of the sixth, scoring five runs on just one hit. Cal U scored the initial run of the inning on a fielder's choice before sophomore third baseman Austin Logan (Beaver, Pa./Beaver) drew a bases-loaded walk. Freshman Eric Fairman (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson), who entered the game as pinch-runner, then delivered an RBI single through the left side before Fennell reached on a bases-loaded walk. Slippery Rock induced a fielder's choice to third that resulted in an out at home before recording a strikeout. Freshman first baseman Kristian Webb (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair) later drew a bases-loaded walk, his third walk of the game.

Senior Cam Maxey (Mechanicsville, Va./Atlee) earned the win after working 0.2 inning of scoreless relief. Cal U used five different pitchers in the victory with Youral lasting 3.1 innings while making the start, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits and one walk. The Rock used six different pitchers in the loss and sophomore Andrew Null suffered the loss after yielding three runs (two earned) in 0.2 innings of relief. Rock starter Shawn Holman worked just 2.1 innings (78 pitches) and allowed one run (earned) while issuing seven walks and didn't allow a hit.

In Game 1, Cal U tied the score at 2-2 in the top of the fifth before Slippery Rock claimed the 3-2 victory with a solo homer by Bell to lead off the seventh. Senior starter GJ Senchak (New Castle, Pa./New Castle) took a no-decision after allowing two runs (both earned) on three hits and one walk in 6.0 innings (72 pitches). Junior Bobby Thompson (Blairsville, Pa./Blairsville) suffered the loss after allowing the walk-off homer to the first batter he faced. Rock junior James Divosevic (1-2) earned the win after tossing 2.0 scoreless innings of one-hit relief.

The Vulcans threatened in the top of the first with a runner at third and no outs before back-to-back strikeouts and a fly-out ended the inning. Slippery Rock took a 2-0 lead in the second with a two-run homer by second baseman Joe Campagna, which followed a two-out walk. The Vulcans cut the deficit to 2-1 in the fourth when Webb delivered a two-out single after the inning started with a throwing error.

In the fifth, redshirt sophomore catcher Andrew Grace (Moon Twp., Pa./Moon) led off with a single and Cal U later loaded the bases with a hit by pitch and two-out walk. The Vulcans then tied the game at 2-2 with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly. Both teams threatened to break the tie in the sixth with Brooks lining a two-out triple in the top half before Slippery Rock countered with a leadoff double in the bottom of the inning. The Rock threat ended when the runner attempted to advance on a groundball to the shortstop that resulted in an out at third.

Each team was limited to four hits in Game 1 with The Rock scoring all three of its runs via a home run.

Cal U returns to action on Friday, April 15, when it hosts a doubleheader against IUP at CONSOL Energy Park at 1 p.m.