ERIE — When Jared Skolnicki takes the hill, the Keystone Oaks baseball team has a swagger.

“We feel like we can’t lose when he’s on the mound,” said Golden Eagles’ coach Scott Crimone.

Slippery Rock saw why.

The Rockets managed just four base runners and zero hits in a 4-0 loss to Skolnicki and Keystone Oaks in the first round of the PIAA Class AAA playoffs at Jerry Uht Park Monday afternoon.

“We haven’t seen a kid like that all year,” said Slippery Rock coach Nathan McCollough. “I don’t think we’ve even seen a lefty all year. You put two things like that together, a lefty for the first time who is throwing 87 miles per hour, it’s tough.”

Skolnicki, a Kent State University recruit, came into the game with a 9-1 record, an 0.34 ERA and 93 strikeouts and only 10 walks in 62 innings pitched this season.

Still, as dominant as he has been this season, this was his first no-hitter. Stolnicki struck out 11 and walked three in the victory.

His one loss this season came 1-0 to undefeated South Park in the WPIAL semifinals. Keystone Oaks will get a rematch with the 25-0 Eagles Thursday.

Crimone said he wasn’t going to save Skolnicki for that game, or lift him early so he would be available Thursday.

“I have confidence in our other five arms,” Crimone said.

Slippery Rock’s only real threat against Skolnicki came in the first inning.

Ryan Lauster and Cody Stephenson drew back-to-back one-out walks and then cleanup hitter Mitch Robinson hit a sinking line drive to center. Erik Fawcett snagged the liner and doubled Lauster off second to end the frame.

“I think we had opportunities early. When we didn’t capitalize on them, he started hitting his groove,” McCollough said. “He started working quickly, hitting his spots. He felt comfortable. We let him feel comfortable. If we could have rattled him early, maybe it would have been a different outcome.”

Skolnicki is not easily flustered. He missed his entire junior season with a knee injury, but has bounced back.

“The umpire was squeezing him a little bit,” Crimone said. “But he has a lot of poise. He has a lot of confidence and he overcomes. He overcame a lot of adversity last year just to get back this season.”

Slippery Rock (14-8) overcame a lot to get to its first state playoff game.

The Rockets had to win three District 10 playoff games, each by one run, to advance. The success ended a string of miserable seasons of baseball for Slippery Rock.

Cody Stephenson pitched well for the Rockets, giving up four runs — only two earned — and seven hits in six innings of work.

Keystone Oaks (19-5) got to Stephenson for a run in the top of the first inning and then plated two unearned runs in the top of the fourth to give Skolnicki plenty of breathing room.

“That’s been our approach all year,” Crimone said. “We want to be in attack mode when we are (at the plate).”

Keystone Oaks added a run in the top of the seventh, beginning the inning with consecutive hits against Stephenson, to chase the right-hander. Junior Joe Barnhart finished up the seventh for Slippery Rock.

Stephenson is one of four seniors, along with Levi Leonberg, Mitch Robinson and Taylor Buhler, who saw some of the darkest days of the Slippery Rock baseball program.

“I’m glad these seniors got to go through this and see this,” McCollough said. “They’re going to remember this season for the rest of their lives. For the young guys, it gives us that one step to build on, that one taste of it so they will want more of it.”

Keystone Oaks 100 200 1 — 4 7 1

Slippery Rock 000 000 0 — 0 0 2

W: Jared Skolnicki 7IP (11K, 3BB). L: Cody Stephenson 6IP (1K, 3BB).

Keystone Oaks (19-5): Ryan Rosato 1B, Skolnicki 2-1B, Ryan Ribeau 1B RBI, Nick Riggle 2B, Walt Hepler RBI, Ben Canty 1B, Erik Fawcett 1B

Slippery Rock (14-8): Ryan Lauster BB, Stephenson BB, Josh Bowser BB