SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University baseball team settled for a split with California (Pa.) Saturday in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division doubleheader from Jack Critchfield Park.
 
After dropping a pair of games against Cal Friday at Wild Things Park, Slippery Rock bounced back with a 4-1 win in the opener Saturday before the Vulcans broke a 1-1 tie and scored three runs in the seventh inning to post a 4-1 win in the finale.

The split improves SRU to 14-13 overall and 3-9 in PSAC West games. Cal moves to 13-12 overall and 4-8 in PSAC West play.
 
Luke Trueman was the standout on the day for SRU as he picked up the complete-game victory on the mound in the first game and then belted a solo home run to account for SRU's only run in the second game.
 
GAME ONE: SRU 4 – Cal 1
 
Robby Barrientos hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning to break a 1-1 tie and Alex Robenolt added a two-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning to lift Slippery Rock to a 4-1 win in the first game Saturday.
 
The Vulcans tallied three hits and scored one run in the top of the first inning to carry their momentum from yesterday's sweep into game three of the series, but Slippery Rock responded from there.
 
The Rock tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the first inning after Joseph Ehland led off with a triple and came home on an RBI from Koby Bubash.
 
Luke Trueman settled in on the mound after the first frame and was dominant the rest of the way. Trueman allowed just two hits over the final six innings and finished the complete-game win with 10 strikeouts, one walk and just five total hits. It marked his second complete game of the year and improved his record to 5-1 with a 1.46 ERA in seven starts.
 
Robenolt finished the game 2-for-3 with two RBI with Bubash and Barrientos each picking up one RBI. SRU tallied five total hits in the game with Braden Olson also recording one hit.
 
Nathan Holmes (0-3) took the loss on the mound for Cal after throwing five innings and allowing four earned runs, despite allowing just four hits. He finished with four strikeouts and one walk. Justin Stewart tallied the lone RBI for the Vulcans.
 
GAME TWO: Cal 4 - SRU 1
 
Just like the first game, California jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning and forced Slippery Rock to respond.
 
The Rock leveled the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the third inning when Luke Trueman entered the game as a pinch hitter and launched a two-out solo home run to right field.
 
A pitching duel followed after the third inning with neither team able to add to the 1-1 score until the seventh inning, when Cal broke the game open. Santino Marra opened the inning with a single and then scored when Brett Bobin ripped a triple to left-center field. Bobin then came home after a two-out RBI single from Justin Stewart and Stewart scored after a double from Payton Conte to make it 4-1.
 
SRU put the first two batters on base in the bottom of the seventh inning when Robert Herr reached on an error and Joey Purcell singled to center field, but a double play ball quickly curtailed the rally and Cal closed out the win.
 
Nate Malak was strong on the mound in a starting role for SRU, throwing four innings and allowing three hits and one earned run while striking out three. Tanner Esposito threw 1.1 innings and allowed two hits with no runs. Jake Norris (3-1) took over with one out in the sixth inning and ended up taking the loss, allowing three runs in the seventh inning and finishing with four hits allowed in 1.1 innings of work. Robert Herr came on with two outs in the seventh and picked up the third out to end the inning.
 
Slippery Rock managed five hits in the second game with Robby Barrientos, Noah Ross and Joseph Ehland each having one hit to go along with Trueman's home run and Purcell's hit in the seventh.
 
Dylan Mathiesen threw 6.0 innings for Cal, allowing one run, five hits, no walks and striking out nine. He was relieved after the first two batters of the seventh inning. Jake Kramer came on in relief and retired two straight batters with ground balls, one of which was a double play, to seal the win and pick up the save.
 
Slippery Rock will look to get back in the win column Tuesday with a non-conference doubleheader on the road at Mansfield University. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. from Shaute Field.
 
 


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