SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University baseball team continued its push towards clinching a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Tournament berth when it split a doubleheader with division-leader California (Pa.) Friday at Critchfield Park.
 
A spirited Rock rally fell just short in a 6-5 game-one loss only for SRU to bounce back with a 2-0 shutout victory in game two.
 
The doubleheader split moves Slippery Rock's record to 28-14 overall and 14-8 inside the PSAC West while California leaves SRU at 31-8 overall and 16-5 in league competition. The Rock's win in game two snapped an eight-game winning streak for the Vulcans.
 
With six conference games remaining in the regular season Slippery Rock finds itself slotted third in the PSAC West standings, narrowly behind first-place California (16-5) and second-place Seton Hill (14-6) while a game in front of IUP (13-9). The top four teams in the PSAC West standings at the end of the regular season qualify for the conference tournament.
 
Gage Gillott continued his hot streak with another great doubleheader. He went a combined 5-for-6 over the two games with two runs scored, one home run, three RBIs and a walk.
 
Clay Wiesen and Tyler Cerame each had hits in both of Friday's games as well. Wiesen was 4-for-7 with one RBI and a double. Cerame scored three of SRU's seven runs while going 2-for-3 at the plate with two walks.
 
GAME ONE: CAL 6 – SRU 5
Slippery Rock nearly overcame a five-run deficit in the seventh inning against one of the top relievers in the PSAC West, but its comeback bid came just short in a 6-5 loss in the opener.
 
Trailing 6-1 entering the bottom of the seventh inning, The Rock's rally opened courtesy of back-to-back singles from Jimmy Sadler and Cerame which forced California starting pitcher Michael Valente from the game for Jake Kramer, who came into the day with eight saves, a 2-0 record and a 2.19 ERA, with Gillott coming to the plate.
 
Unphased by the impressive closer, Gillott blasted the second pitch of his at-bat deep over the left field wall for a three-run home run to cut the Vulcans' lead down to two runs.
 
Kramer came back from the homer to record two outs – one of which being a catch by left fielder Ryan Callahan that took away a near home run by Michael Kitko - before three consecutive base hits off the bats of Stone Powell, Treston Nemeth and finally Wiesen resulted in SRU plating its fourth run of the inning to make it a 6-5 contest with two outs and the game-tying run on third base.
 
However, Kramer was ultimately able to thwart The Rock's comeback plans by registering a game-ending strikeout following Wiesen's RBI single to help California escape with the one-run win.
 
Gillott went 3-for-4 in the opener with two runs, three RBIs his fourth home run of 2025 and a double.
 
Nemeth and Wiesen each compiled two hits as well with Wiesen driving in one run. Brandon Butler had one RBI and was one of five other Rock athletes with base hits in game one alongside Powell, Sadler, Cerame, who also drew SRU's lone walk, and Kitko.
 
Nate Malak (5-2) was the pitcher of record for The Rock. He threw five innings, allowing four runs on six hits and four walks with three strikeouts. Parker Hogge pitched the final two innings out of SRU's bullpen with two runs yielded on three hits and a walk.
 
Valente (9-0) took the win for California after going six innings and being charged with three runs on eight hits and a walk before giving way to Kramer, who allowed two runs on four hits in his lone inning pitched.
 
GAME 2: SRU 2 – CAL 0
Hunter Loomis (4-1) and Mark Wilbur combined for a dominant shutout performance on the mound for SRU in 2-0 doubleheader saving victory for The Rock in game two.
 
Loomis provided SRU with what was arguably his best performance to date in a Rock uniform as he blanked the PSAC's third-ranked offense for 5.2 innings with seven strikeouts and only four hits allowed. Only one of the Vulcans' four hits went for extra bases against Loomis, who allowed just one runner into scoring position following the first inning.
 
Wilbur was brought in for Loomis with two outs and one runner on base in the sixth inning. The senior continued his career-year by forcing an inning ending flyout followed by a perfect seventh inning to lock up what was his sixth save of the season.
 
With Loomis and Wilbur taking care of the California batting order, Slippery Rock's offense posted one-run innings in the third and fifth. Cerame scored both Rock runs, the first being off a Kitko sacrifice fly while the insurance tally came on a double play ball.
 
Gillott was a perfect 2-for-2 with one walk in game two. Wiesen added a multi-hit game as well, going 2-for-3 with a double. Cerame had one hit and a walk in addition to scoring twice while Cam Panyko Morris accounted for SRU's remaining hit. Kitko's RBI was his team-leading 27th of the year.
 
Vulcan starting pitcher Jackson Miller (4-3) was credited with the loss. He gave up only one run in four innings. Relief pitcher Beau Bigam tossed two innings, allowing the other SRU run.
 
Slippery Rock and California are scheduled to close out their four-game series with a doubleheader Saturday at EQT Park in Washington, Pennsylvania. First pitch of game one is set for 1 p.m.
 
 
 

 
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