SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. (April 25) – The No. 30 California (PA) baseball team opened its series against Slippery Rock with a split of a road doubleheader in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action on Friday afternoon, earning a 6-5 victory in Game 1 before dropping a 2-0 contest in Game 2.
NOTES
• The Vulcans (31-8, 16-5) hold a two-game lead in the win column for first place in the divisional standings.
• Cal extended its winning streak to eight games before being shutout for only the second time this year.
• The Vulcans have split eight of the last nine road doubleheaders in the series with The Rock dating back to 2015.
GAME 1
• Cal held a 6-1 lead before allowing four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.
• The Vulcans took a 1-0 lead on a solo homer by sophomore second baseman
Caleb Collins with two outs.
• Cal added to the lead with a two-run homer by senior designated hitter
Payton Conte, his sixth of the season, in the third inning.
• The Vulcans held a 4-1 lead before scoring twice in the top of the seventh.
• Senior second baseman
Santino Marra tallied an RBI double and later scored on an RBI single by Collins.
• Collins posted three hits and two RBI, while Conte collected two hits, two RBI and two runs scored.
• Marra and senior left fielder
Ryan Callahan both finished with two hits and one run scored.
• Sophomore catcher
Kyle Rizzo drew three walks in the contest.
• Junior
Michael Valente (9-0) earned the victory after allowing three runs (all earned) on eight hits in 6.0 innings (100 pitches).
• He is tied for the second-most wins in single-season school history, becoming the first pitcher since Bradyn Kail (2019) with nine victories in a year.
GAME 2
• The Vulcans were limited to just four hits while being shutout.
• Slippery Rock took a 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third and scored on a double play in the fifth inning.
• Senior
Jackson Miller (4-3) suffered the loss after yielding one run (earned) on four hits over 4.0 innings (57 pitches).
NOTES
• Cal returns to the diamond tomorrow, Saturday, April 26, when it hosts a twinbill versus Slippery Rock at EQT Park, starting at 1 p.m.