The Slippery Rock baseball team defeated Indiana University of Pa. on Sunday afternoon to conclude a four game series in which Slippery Rock lost three games.
Head coach Jeff Messer was displeased with the team’s play but is still very optimistic about his team in the long run.
“IUP played pretty, but I think we are a better team,” Messer said. “We didn’t prove it this weekend, but the good thing is that we still have 24 more conference games and we’re only two games out of first place.”
Games one and two were both played at Slippery Rock’s Jack Critchfield Park on Saturday, where Indiana won both games by the scores of 1-4, and 1-3. The Rock then traveled to IUP to finish off the series, losing game three 1-3 before winning game four 9-4.
Junior Garret Peterson was on the mound to start game one for Slippery Rock. Peterson lasted six innings, allowing three runs on three hits, walking three and striking out three. Freshman James Divosevic came in to pitch in the top of the seventh, giving up one run on two hits, and striking out one. Peterson was credited with the loss, and his record now stands at 2-1.
The Slippery Rock offense was able to out hit Indiana with seven hits to their five, but were unable to put many runs on the board. The Rock’s only run came in the third inning when junior Adam Urbania hit an RBI single to right field, scoring senior Graeme Zaparzynski. Senior Will Kengor and redshirt sophomore Kyle Vozar each had two hits in the game as well.
Junior Anton Constantino started the game at pitcher in game two. Constantino threw a strong five and one thirds innings, allowing just one run on five hits, walking three and striking out two. Senior John Kovalik entered the game in the middle of the sixth, and remained on the mound for the remainder of the game. Kovalik allowed two runs on two hits, and struck out one batter.
The Rock’s offense was held scoreless until the seventh and final inning of game two. Sophomore Jordan Faretta forced in Slippery Rock’s lone run with and RBI single, scoring Urbania. Faretta tallied two hits in game two, while senior Brandon Myers added one more to the Rock’s total of three hits.
Slippery Rock’s offense was once again unable to get going in game three on Sunday afternoon. Slippery Rock was once again held to three total hits. Freshman Ty Zimmerman hit an RBI single in the fourth inning, scoring Faretta for the Rock’s only run of the game. Senior Jake Weibley and Urbania each tallied one hit for Slippery Rock.
Junior Kyle Schneider pitched the entire game for Slippery Rock in game three. Schneider allowed three runs on ten hits, struck out three, and did not allow any walks.
The Rock’s offense came out swinging in game four, led by redshirt freshman Logan Brown who went 5-5 in the game. Brown began his hot streak in the first inning with an RBI single, scoring sophomore Alex Bell. In his next at-bat, Brown doubled to left-center, once again bringing Bell across the plate. Kengor hit an RBI single in the fourth, scoring Zimmerman. Zimmerman was credited with an RBI after he drew a walk with the bases loaded in the fifth, scoring Brown from third. Logan Brown was again came through with runners on base in the sixth with an RBI single scoring Kengor. Two batters later, Faretta came through with another RBI single scoring Bell. Brown then came up again in the seventh, smacking another RBI double. Vozar then followed with a two RBI single, scoring both Brown and Urbania.
“I just went up there trying to be aggressive, and I got some good pitches to hit,” Brown said. “It felt good to finally start hitting the ball well, and it also felt good to come through at the right time.”
Redshirt sophomore Jon Anderson started game four for Slippery Rock. He lasted four and one third innings, allowing two runs on three hits, but walking eight and striking out one. Senior Ryan Oglesby replaced Anderson in the fifth, throwing for one and two thirds innings, allowing no runs on one hit, walking one and striking out two. Kovalik then entered the game in the seventh to close out the victory, but did allow two runs on two hits.
Slippery Rock will play a four game series starting on Friday with California University of Pennsylvania. Games one and two will be played at California, but games three and four will be played at Slippery Rock’s Jack Critchfield Park on Saturday at 1 and 3 p.m.
Slippery Rock will also host Clarion University for a doubleheader on Tuesday, April 1.
