SLIPPERY ROCK — Slippery Rock had only three hits. The Rockets had three fielding errors as well.

They also had Gunner Becker — and the senior right-hander was enough to manage a 1-0 District 10 Class 4A quarterfinal baseball win over Oil City Wednesday afternoon at Critchfield Park.

Becker struck out six and scattered five hits in leading Slippery Rock (18-2) to its 12th straight win. He threw 71 of his 92 pitches for strikes.

“That's Gunner Becker. That's just who he is,” Rockets coach Fred Pryor said. “He wants the ball in big games. He gets after it. He attacks. That's him.”

Becker had to be on his game on this day as Oil City pitcher Dylan Chapin was certainly on his.

Chapin threw 53 of his 79 pitches for strikes in a route-going effort. The junior right-hander allowed the game's only run in the top of the first inning.

“Dylan was outstanding today, but we knew what we were up against in Becker,” Oil City coach Steve Pikna said. “We faced him two weeks ago and struck out 14 times against him.

“We put the ball in play today. Really, I'm not disappointed. This was probably the nicest game we've played all season. We didn't beat ourselves.”

Dylan Dingel walked with one out in the Slippery Rock first inning and moved to third on Danny Williams' single to center. He scored when Becker bounced out to third.

Becker made the run stand up. The Rockets managed just two more runners the rest of the day and neither of them made it past first base.

“With these conditions (cool day, wind blowing in), I knew it'd be a low-scoring game,” Becker said. “Once I got a feel for the mound and saw the umpire had a low strike zone, I used that.”

The Oilers stranded two runners on base four different times. Their biggest scoring threat was in the sixth inning. Chapin singled to left to begin the frame and Shane Ruby's fly ball to right field was dropped.

“Every fly ball was an adventure today. That wind was blustery,” Pryor said.

Matt Caldwell tried bunting the runners up, but Becker's throw to third forced out Chapin. Colby Rybak then grounded a single to center.

Pinch-runner Ty'Shon Law was waved home, but never got there. Center fielder Kyle Benson's throw tailed up the third base line a bit, but catcher Zach Van Dyke caught it on the fly and tagged out Law as he was running by.

Jacob Schwab popped out to shortstop to end the inning.

“That was the first chance I've had to throw a runner out all season,” Benson said. “I saw the throw was tailing a bit, but I knew it'd get there on a fly and it was gonna beat him.”

Pikna defended the decision to send the runner.

“In retrospect, he didn't get a real good jump off second,” the coach said. “But we needed a run and the (outfield) grass was slowing up the ball.

“Their kid made a good play. It didn't work out for us.”

With one out in the Oil City seventh, Ben Mizerak reached on an infield single and Josh Puleo's sacrifice bunt attempt was bobbled by the third baseman.

Undaunted, Becker struck out Sawyer Manning and got Chapin on a fly ball to left to end the game.

“It doesn't matter to me what the score is,” Becker said. “My approach is always the same. Focus in, get ahead of the hitter and attack. I felt good out there today.”

Pikna tipped his cap to his opponent. Slippery Rock defeated Oil City 6-3 and 3-1 during the regular season.

“They're a good team. When Becker gets ahead of the hitters, he's tough,” Pikna said. “He was tough all day today.”

The Rockets play Warren — an 11-3 winner over Meadville — in the semifinals Saturday at SRU.

Slippery Rock 100 000 0 — 1 3 3

Oil City 000 000 0 — 0 5 0

W: Gunner Becker 7IP (6K, 1BB). L: Dylan Chapin 7IP (3K, 1BB).

Slippery Rock (18-2): Danny Williams 1B, Gunner Becker 1B RBI, Patrick Busa 1B

Oil City (10-11): Dylan Chapin 2-1B, Colby Rybak 1B, Caden Highfield 1B, Ben Mizerak 1B

Saturday: District 10 Class 4A semifinal-Slippery Rock vs.Warren, 3 p.m., SRU