SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Behind a two-run walk off home run in game one by Jake Robinson, the Slippery Rock University baseball team split a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division doubleheader against Gannon University Saturday at Critchfield Park.
 
The Rock took the opener from the visiting Golden Knights, 10-8, but couldn't complete the sweep following a 1-0 loss in game two. Saturday's split moves Slippery Rock's record to 18-12 overall and 6-8 in league games while Gannon leaves The Rock at 14-17 overall and 8-6 inside the PSAC West.
 
Robinson and Clay Wiesen were the only two Rock athletes to reach base in both games Saturday. Robinson led the way on a combined day of 3-for-6 at the plate with three runs scored, his first home run of 2026, four RBIs and two walks. Wiesen meanwhile went a collective 3-for-5 with two runs, one double and a walk.
 
GAME ONE: SRU 10 – GU 8
W: Joey Vanzin (2-1)
L: Ashton Wheelock (0-2)
 
The Rock and Golden Knights traded runs early and often in the opener leading up to Robinson's late-game heroics as part of a 10-8 Rock victory.
 
Gannon and SRU played to a 2-2 tie through three innings before GU briefly took a lead via one run in the top of the fourth only for The Rock to plate five two-out runs in the bottom of the frame to jump ahead 7-3.
 
The lead proved to be short lived after Gannon responded with four runs in the fifth to once again pull the game even before a Gage Gillott RBI-single scored Darryn Callahan in the bottom of the inning, giving SRU a one-run advantage at 8-7.
 
The Rock's slim lead held until the seventh inning when Gannon pushed across the game-tying run, sending the contest into the bottom of the seventh in an 8-8 deadlock.
 
Gannon relief pitcher Ashton Wheelock got two quick outs in the bottom of the seventh, but just as the game appeared to be headed for extra innings Gillott drew a walk to bring Robinson to the plate.
 
Robinson and Wheelock battled to a full count before The Rock's shortstop turned on the game's decisive pitch and drove a towering shot down the right field line, easily clearing the fence at the Critchfield Park to give The Rock a 10-8 win.
 
Robinson went 3-for-4 with three runs, one home run and a walk in the opener. Gillott also tallied a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with two runs, two RBIs and a walk. No. 3 hitter Stone Powell was 2-for-3 with one, one RBI and a walk as well.
 
All told, the combination of Gillott, Robinson and Powell went 7-for-11 with three six runs, seven RBIs and three walks.
 
Treston Nemeth, Callahan and Wiesen all had hits as well in game one with Wiesen scoring twice and walking once as well. The Rock's 10 hits in the win served as the team's eighth double-digit hit contest in the last nine outings.
 
SRU used two pitchers in the opener. Gillott made the start, giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks while striking out five in 4.1 innings. Joey Vanzin (2-1) pitched the final 2.2 innings in relief with four runs allowed on five hits and one walk alongside three strikeouts in 2.2 innings.
 
Wheelock (0-2) was the pitcher of record for Gannon after giving up Robinson's home run.
 
GAME 2: GU 1 – SRU 0
W: Jacob Engel (4-1)
L: Michael Kitko (1-2)
 
A sweep was not to be for The Rock as Gannon's Jacob Engel tossed a two-hit complete game shutout in lifting the Golden Knights to a 1-0 win in the nightcap.
 
Engel was not the only starter that was dominant in game two. The Rock's Cole Grady continued his string of great outings, throwing five shutout innings with two strikeouts and just one hit allowed.
 
Out of the bullpen, Nolan Comerford recorded two outs and yielded a pair of hits in the sixth inning before giving way to Michael Kitko (1-2), who stranded the potential go-ahead runs by forcing an inning-ending groundout.
 
However, Gannon was finally able to register a run in the seventh inning. Matt Smith doubled to lead off the inning and promptly took third base on a flyout. Kitko then forced another groundball that he was able to cleanly field for the inning's second out, but the next three GU batters all reached base on two walks sandwiched around a hit batter which forced in the go-ahead run before Kitko could get out of the frame.
 
Another walk off was not to be as Engel retired The Rock in order in the seventh to close out the 1-0 win.
 
SRU's best chance for a run versus Engel came in the sixth inning when Wiesen struck a one-out double to centerfield, but he would ultimately be stranded at third base following a groundout and inning ending flyout.
 
Wiesen went 2-for-2 in game two while Robinson also reached base on a walk.

Slippery Rock and GU close out their weekend series with a doubleheader Sunday at Gannon. First pitch of game one is set for 1 p.m.
 
 


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