SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. (April 3) – Behind a pair of seven-run innings, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team registered a doubleheader split at Slippery Rock in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play on Sunday afternoon, suffering a 5-1 loss in Game 1 before rolling to a 17-3 victory in Game 2.

With the split, the Vulcans stand at 17-7 overall behind a 3-3 record in divisional action. Cal U and Slippery Rock split the four-game, regular-season series this weekend for the first time since the 2018 campaign. Meanwhile, The Rock moves to 15-5 this season with a 3-5 mark in league play.

In Game 2, Cal U scored 17 runs on 16 hits, eight walks, two hit by pitch and one error. The 17 runs are the most scored by the Vulcans in PSAC West play since totaling 22 runs at Gannon in the 2019 season. Senior catcher Justin Stewart (Butler, Pa./Butler) finished 3-for-3 with a solo homer, three runs scored and two walks, while redshirt freshman second baseman Santino Marra (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands) went 3-for-3 with two RBI, three runs scored and one walk. Senior third baseman Louden Conte (California, Pa./California) posted three hits, including a solo homer, and two runs scored, while senior right fielder Patrick Brogan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Our Lady of the Sacred Heart) and senior shortstop Anthony Venezia (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler) both collected two hits and scored two runs. Venezia also registered a pair of RBI from the leadoff spot.

The Rock took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second on a two-run double with two outs before Stewart scored on a ground-out in the third. Cal U then tied the score at 2-2 on a sacrifice fly in the fourth.

Cal U tallied seven runs on six hits and three walks while facing three pitchers in the top of the fifth. Stewart, who belted the game-winning grand slam in Game 1 yesterday, started the inning with a solo homer before the Vulcans later had runners on first and second. Following a pitching change, senior Jacob McCaskey (Tarentum, Pa./Deer Lakes) delivered a three-run homer – his sixth of the year – to right center and Conte added a solo homer, his fifth of the season, after a fly-out. Marra then reached on a single before the second pitching change of the inning resulted in back-to-back walks to load the bases. Marra stretched the lead to 9-2 when he scored on a wild pitch.

The Vulcans again plated seven runs in the sixth despite collecting only one extra-base hit. McCaskey scored on a bases-loaded wild pitch before Marra collected an RBI single. Following a sacrifice fly, Cal U added four runs in the inning with two outs. The Vulcans scored the final run of the game in the seventh on a bases-loaded hit by pitch.

McCaskey earned the victory to improve to 3-0 this season, allowing three runs (all earned) on 10 hits and three walks over 5.0-plus innings (94 pitches). He also extended his hitting streak to 17 games in the twinbill and eclipsed 100 career RBI with his three-run homer. Sophomore Brett Bobin (Wampum, Pa./Mohawk) tossed 2.0 scoreless innings of relief on Sunday. Rock starter Andy McClymonds (2-2) suffered the loss after surrendering five runs (all earned) on six hits in 4.1 innings (67 pitches).

In Game 1, Slippery Rock allowed only one runner to advance into scoring position. The Rock took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a throwing error before adding to the lead with a two-run single in the second inning. Cal U trimmed the deficit to 3-1 in the fourth when McCaskey, who reached on a double, scored on a two-out RBI single by Brogan.

The Rock countered with a solo homer by designated hitter Eddie Morris in the fifth before adding an insurance run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly.

Sophomore Troy Lincavage (Ambler, Pa./Legend (Colo.)) was saddled with the loss after yielding three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks in 3.0 innings (77 pitches). He also registered five strikeouts while making his first start of the season following seven relief appearances. Slippery Rock junior Luke Trueman, who started two games in right field in the series, earned the complete-game victory, surrendering one run (earned) on six hits and zero walks over 7.0 innings (77 pitches) with nine strikeouts.

Cal U continues PSAC West play tomorrow, Monday, April 4, with a doubleheader against Gannon in Erie, Pennsylvania, at 1 p.m.