SLIPPERY ROCK — Ryan Lauster burst out of the batter's box thinking triple.

His sprint turned into a trot.

His triple turned into a three-run home run.

His second-inning big fly sent his Slippery Rock High baseball team on the way to a 7-2 win over rival Grove City in the District 10 Class AAA semifinals at a packed Critchfield Park on a frigid Friday night.

“It just found its way over the fence,” Lauster said, smiling. “I was thinking 'stay back.' It was a low curve, so I had to stay back even more.”

The three-run home run staked the Rockets to an early 3-0 lead against Grove City left-hander Justin Orlowski.

Jake Arienzo and Cody Lawniczak set the table for Lauster with singles after Gunner Becker singled and had his courtesy runner picked off.

“The hit itself was big,” said Slippery Rock coach Nate McCollough. “The three hits prior to that were even bigger. We were struggling. I think the rivalry part of the game and the atmosphere had us a little bit early and then we settled down.”

There was nothing unsettling about Slippery Rock starting pitcher Gunner Becker.

The sophomore right-hander turned in another solid start, giving up one run on three hits in five innings.

Becker got out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the first inning and then cruised until he ran into a little trouble in the fourth with Slippery Rock up 5-0.

A leadoff double by Kyle Shingledecker and a single by Trey Adams put runners on the corners with no one out, but Becker gave up just the one run on a sacrifice fly by Brandon Dennis.

Becker has often pitched beyond his years this season, McCollough said.

“He has good stuff. Every time he goes out to the mound, you know what you're going to get,” McCollough said. “He throws strikes. He does walk a few; he gets erratic from time to time, but that makes a good pitcher.”

Becker only struck out two, walked three and hit two batters, but was able to get pop-ups andground balls to end threats and innings.

“His fastball runs in and his slider runs away,” McCollough said. “It's nice to have that because as a hitter, you don't know what's coming. The speeds aren't that much different between his fastball and his slider, so it's hard to pick up. Every time he goes out to the mound, we're going to get a lot of ground balls and strikeouts and you know he's going to compete every time.”

Becker also competed at the plate with three singles.

Slippery Rock chased Orlowski after a leadoff walk in the top of the third inning, which came around to score, and got to Grove City relief pitcher Shingledecker for three more runs.

Travis Lauster had a RBI triple and Jake Arienzo had a double, two singles and a pair of RBI for the Rockets.

Grove City (13-6) managed just six hits.

“It was a good run for our guys this year,” said Grove City coach Bill Herman. “A great group of nine seniors who we will miss. Great players and great young men. Overall, a great season.”

Dylan Dingel worked the final two innings for Slippery Rock, who beat Conneaut for the third time this season in the first round of the district playoffs and then beat the Eagles for a third time Friday.

“It's not easy to beat a team three times,” Ryan Lauster said. “And we did it two times in a row. That's big for us.”

Now Slippery Rock will face Cathedral Prep (18-2) in the district final at 5 p.m. Monday at Critchfield Park.

“It's going to be a battle,” McCollough said. “Their ace (Carter Cross) is going to Nebraska. We're going to be facing him, I'd imagine. We have to be ready to compete every pitch, every inning, because they are going to ready to compete.

“They didn't like they didn't get the top seed, I'd imagine,” McCollough added. “They're used to getting that, and I think they're going to come out wanting to show District 10 who they are.”

Slippery Rock 032 101 0 — 7 12 0

Grove City 000 100 1 — 2 6 1

W: Gunner Becker 5IP (2K, 3BB). L: Justin Orlowski 2+IP (0K, 1BB).

Slippery Rock (20-1): Ryan Lauster HR 3-RBI, Jason Bennett 1B 2-SB, Travis Lauster 3B 2-RBI, Jason Rockburn 1B, Danny Williams 1B, Becker 3-1B, Jake Arienzo 2-1B 2B 2-RBI, Cody Lawniczak 1B

Grove City (13-6): Brandon Grace 1B, Jordan Anderson 1B, Jesse Hodge 1B, Kyle Shingledecker 2B RBI, Trey Adams 1B, Brandon Dennis RBI, Brett Snyder 1B

Monday: Slippery Rock vs. Cathedral Prep, District 10 Class AAA championship game, 5 p.m. at Critchfield Park