SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. (April 23) – Behind a complete game from freshman
Nick Riggle (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks), the Vulcans earned a doubleheader split at Slippery Rock on Sunday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action, winning 8-3 in Game 2 after suffering a 12-1 loss in Game 1.
With the split, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team stands at 18-20 this season with a 10-10 mark in league action. Meanwhile, The Rock moved its record to 21-14 overall behind a 12-8 record in league play.
In Game 1, Slippery Rock scored 12 runs over the final four innings of play to earn its third win of the weekend. Junior third baseman
Levi Krause (East Berlin, Pa./Spring Grove) hit his team-leading eighth home run of the season to provide the only run in the contest for the Vulcans and finished 3-for-4 at the plate.
The Vulcans stranded runners in scoring position in each of the initial three innings before The Rock scored five runs on six hits in the bottom of the third. The first five batters for Slippery Rock reached base on hits, including three for extra bases that produced four runs. The Rock extended the lead to 8-0 in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run single and a sacrifice fly after it loaded the bases with one out. Krause homered to cut the deficit 8-1 in the top of the fifth before Slippery Rock responded with two runs on an RBI single and a throwing error on an attempted stolen base with a runner on third. The Rock added the final runs in the bottom of the sixth with two outs after a fielding error kept the inning going after the first two outs were recorded.
Freshman starter
Jason Downs (Albion, N.Y./Charles D'Amico) suffered the loss after allowing five runs (all earned) on nine hits in 3.0 innings of work (53 pitches). Slippery Rock starter Preston Falascino (5-2) recorded the victory after yielding one run (earned) on seven hits, while tallying four strikeouts over 6.1 innings (104 pitches).
In Game 2, Riggle tossed the first complete game of his collegiate career to lead the Vulcans to their first win of the weekend series against The Rock. He improved to 3-1 this season after allowing three runs (one earned) on six hits with four strikeouts and no walks in 7.0 innings (76 pitches).
Cal U took its first lead of the weekend in the top of the first after sophomore catcher
Kristian Webb (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair) recorded a two-out RBI single. The Vulcans added to their lead in the top of the second with four runs to take a 5-0 lead. Cal U loaded the bases with one out behind two walks and one single before Krause drew a walk. Senior first baseman
David Marcus (Whitby, Ontario/Father Leo J. Austin) followed with a two-run double before the final run scored on a RBI ground-out.
Slippery Rock cut the deficit to 5-2 in the bottom of the third on a pair of fielder's choices after a fielding error. Junior right fielder
Chris Wastchak (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) delivered a two-out RBI single in the top of the fourth after Cal U put runners on the corners to bring the lead to 6-2. The Vulcans added one run in both the sixth and seventh innings to seal the victory. Krause recorded an RBI single in the sixth before a double play with the bases loaded scored the final run in the seventh.
Krause went 2-for-3 in Game 2 with a pair of RBI to finish the series a combined 9-for-15 with two homers and five RBI. Wastchak finished 2-for-4 with two RBI, while Marcus also recorded a pair of RBI.
Slippery Rock starter Trevor Adkins (0-2) was saddled with the loss after allowing five runs (all earned) on three hits and five walks in just 2.0 innings (53 pitches).
Cal U returns to action on Wednesday, April 26, when it travels to face Lake Erie in Painesville, Ohio, for a non-conference doubleheader at 1 p.m.
