SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University baseball team opened its three-game home series against West Virginia State University with an 8-7 win Saturday at Critchfield Park.
 
Slippery Rock improved its record to 6-2 with the win, while the visiting Yellow Jackets dropped to 4-8.
 
Saturday was originally scheduled to be a doubleheader between The Rock and Yellow Jackets. However, a perfect, but windy, spring day quickly turned into a disastrous long-lasting thunderstorm that forced game two to be postponed until Sunday.
 
SRU registered its third consecutive double-digit hit game as The Rock turned 12 hits and six walks into its third highest run output of the year.
 
The Rock received multi-hit afternoons from four athletes including second baseman Max Bernadowski, who went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, one home run and three RBIs.
 
Leadoff hitter Gage Gillott was a perfect 3-for-3 on the day with two RBIs, one walk and a stolen base. Among Gillott's three hits was his third double of the season. He's now hit safely in all eight games in 2026.
 
First baseman Stone Powell stayed hot as well, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Morgen Billotte rounded out the multi-hit quartet at 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI.
 
Darryn Callahan accounted for The Rock's remaining hit, going 1-for-3 with one run and a walk.
 
Michael Kitko drew one walk and drove in the game-winning run on a critical sacrifice fly in the sixth. In his first collegiate start, Aari Fox scored one run and walked twice.
 
The Rock used three pitchers in Saturday's win. Starter Nate Malak went 4.1 innings, striking out six and giving up seven runs on seven hits and one walk. SRU turned to Joey Vanzin (1-1) and Mark Wilbur out of the bullpen.
 
Vanzin came on for Malak in the fifth and limited WVSU to just one run after entering the game with two Yellow Jackets in scoring position and just one out. Wilbur took over in the sixth inning and pitched a pair of scoreless innings for his third save of the year. All three of Wilbur's saves have come in multi-inning appearances.
 
The Rock trailed 3-0 entering the bottom of the second before Bernadowski promptly tied the game with a three-run home run, the first of his career.
 
SRU and WVSU proceeded to trade runs for the rest of the game.
 
The Rock took a brief lead in the third courtesy of an RBI-double by Billotte which plated Powell from first base. The lead was short-lived as WVSU countered with three runs in the top of the fourth before a run-scoring single by Gillott and Fox scoring on a wild pitch brought Slippery Rock and West Virginia State into a 6-6 tie heading into the fifth.
 
The wave of runs continued in the game's waning innings with WVSU pulling back ahead on its fifth-inning run, forcing Slippery Rock to once again play from behind.
 
The late deficit did not seem to bother SRU as The Rock loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the frame via singles from Callahan and Bernadowski as well as a Fox walk. Gillott then pushed Slippery Rock into a 7-7 tie with another walk followed by Kitko sending a flyball to centerfield that was more than deep enough for Bernadowski to score on and give SRU an 8-7 edge.
 
The one-run advantage was more than enough for Wilbur, who worked around a base hit in each inning with relative ease to close out the victory.
 
Cam Reed started the game on the mound for West Virginia State, allowing six runs on nine hits and one walk through three innings. Trisdon Ciampanella (1-1) was the pitcher of record for West Virginia State. He gave up two runs via two hits and three walks before giving way to Bryce Eggleton, who threw 1.2 scoreless innings.
 
Aidan Paulsen, Garrett Wagoner and Ethyn Barnitz each homered for the Yellow Jackets.
 
Slippery Rock and West Virginia State close out their weekend series with a doubleheader Sunday at Critchfield Park. Game one is scheduled for a noon first pitch.




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