SLIPPERY ROCK — The thought crept into the mind of Alex Miklos.

Surely, it couldn't happen two years in a row?

The senior centerfielder on the Grove City High baseball team thought back to one year ago — almost to the day — when he and his teammates were upset by Warren on the very same field at Critchfield Park in the District 10 Class AAA playoffs.

He was determined to not allow that to happen again.

So, Miklos hit a double, triple and a three-run, inside-the-park home run to spark the Eagles to a 7-3 win over upset-minded Corry in the D-10 semifinals Thursday night.

“It definitely popped into our mind,” said Miklos, who began feeling a bit uneasy before his home run keyed a four-run fifth inning that erased a 1-0 deficit. “People got tight last year, but I think going through that last year really helped us this year with this senior group and how strong and determined we are.”

The Eagles (16-2) were hitting the ball well off Corry starting pitcher Aaron Cressley early, but had nothing to show for it. It was eerily similar to the fate that befell them last year at Critchfield Park — a house of horrors for Grove City recently.

Even Grove City coach Pat Forese was wondering if another upset was looming.

“It can always happen. It's baseball. It's the goofiest game there is,” Forese said. “You can have a really good night and hit the ball hard all over the place, but right at people.”

Cressley was perfect through three innings, and a home run off the bat of Cory Owens to start the bottom of the third gave the Beavers a 1-0 lead.

But Cressley wasn't as effective the second time through the order. Corry's right-handed ace, who had a 19-strikeout game earlier this season, wiggled out of a jam in the fourth, but couldn't escape the same fate in the fifth.

Josh Doody drove home Jordan Orlowski with the tying run and then, with two outs, Miklos hit a long fly ball over the head of Corry centerfielder Adam Zimmerman and raced around the bases.

“Off the bat, I never really think it's going out, so I usually move pretty hard,” Miklos said. “As soon as I saw him dive and miss it, I kicked it up a notch. Actually, when I was heading to third I was telling (Forese) to send me, I don't think I would have stopped anyway.”

The big inning turned out to be enough runs for Grove City starter Jason Revesz, who struck out eight in 4X\c innings.

Revesz, though, struggled at times and left the game clinging to a 4-2 lead with two outs and two runners on.

Jon Anderson relieved him and got a called third strike to end the threat.

Anderson gave up a solo home run to Cressley in the seventh — his only blemish — to pick up the save.

Forese said neither of his pitchers were at their best against the Beavers.

“Jason's curveball wasn't sharp,” Forese said. “He wasn't on tonight, but he still had a lot of strikeouts. Jonny wasn't sharp, either, but sometimes that just happens.”

Grove City now must wait to see who it will play for the District 10 championship at Critchfield Park on Memorial Day at 5 p.m.

The Cathedral Prep-Warren semifinal was rained out in Erie Thursday. The two teams will try again today.

Grove City 000 040 3 — 7 7 1Corry 001 010 1 — 4 10 0W: Jason Revesz 4.2 IP (8 K, 2 BB).

L: Aaron Cressley 4.2 IP (2 K, 1 BB).

Grove City (16-2): Alex Miklos 2B 3B HR 5-RBI, Brian Murone 2-1B RBI, Josh Doody 1B RBI

Corry (11-8): Cory Owens HR RBI, Cressley 2-1B HR RBI, Mitchell Burrows 3-1B

Monday: Grove City vs. Cathedral Prep-Warren at Critchfield Park, 5 p.m.