Slippery Rock baseball returned to its normal form by winning two and losing two in their four-game series with Indiana University of Pa.
The first two games of the series were played at IUP, as the Rock lost the first game 4 to 3 and won the second in dominating fashion.
In the loss, Slippery Rock was able to break the scoreless tie in the fourth inning with a two-run home run from catcher Matt Accardi.
After tacking on an additional run in the fifth inning on a Ben Bechtol RBI double, pitcher Zach Jeney surrendered two runs in the bottom of the inning to make the score 3 to 2 in favor of the Green and White.
Jeney gave up the game-tying run in the sixth inning and was taken out of the game after five and two thirds innings pitched, where he allowed four hits and tallied one strikeout. John Kovalik gave up the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh on a one-one out single.
In the second game on Friday, April 20, Slippery Rock was able to rack up 18 runs and get the win 18 to 4.
The third inning is where the Green and White were able to rack up a majority of their runs by scoring 12 on eight hits and three IUP errors.
Brandon Myers contributed five RBI’s in the big offensive inning for the Rock with a two-run single early in the inning and a three-run home run after Slippery Rock batted through the lineup.
Myers had a total of six RBI’s on three hits to lead the way for the Green and White, while Kevin Jovanovich and Will Kengor each had three RBI’s on three hits in five at-bats. Freshman Garrett Peterson went six innings and had six strikeouts while giving up five hits, four runs, and five walks.
On Saturday, the scheduled home games for Slippery Rock against IUP were rained out and postponed until Sunday, April 22.
When play began on Sunday afternoon, Lou Trivino took the mound and pitched another complete game and earned the victory for the Rock in their first game of the day.
Trivino allowed three runs, two earned, on nine hits and had three strikeouts as the Green and White earned the victory 5 to 3.
Jamison Walck, Graeme Zaparzynski, and Kengor accounted for Slippery Rock’s four RBI’s.
The second game of the doubleheader at Jack Critchfield Park started well for the Rock after jumping out to an early 6 to 2 lead in the second inning, but gave up five unanswered runs throughout the remainder of the game and lost 7 to 6.
Kengor led the way again for the Green and White with two RBI’s, as well as first baseman John Shaffer with an additional two RBI’s.
Nic McCowin started the game, but Kovalik pitched a majority of the game in relief with four and two thirds innings of work. Kovalik was charged with the loss after he allowed five runs on seven hits.
Joby Lapkowicz finished the game with four walks, one hit, and two earned runs.
Zaparzynski said the team has been steadily improving this season.
“Our biggest improvement has been minimizing our mistakes,” Zaparzynski said. “The pitchers have cut down on putting runners on and defensively we have been very solid later in the season. I think our hitters have also gotten better at putting the ball in play.”
Going into their final four-game series of the regular season, Slippery Rock is 22-21-1 and 10-10 in the PSAC West Division.
The four-game series will be played April 27 and 28 against California University of Pennsylvania, who is currently third in the PSAC West.
