The Slippery Rock University baseball team (13-12 overall, 4-8 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference) completed a two-game sweep against Walsh University (12-10 overall, 5-3 Great Lakes Interollegiate Athletic Conference) Tuesday, winning game one of the doubleheader 9-4 and game two 7-6.
The Rock got on the board in the first inning with back to back home runs by freshman Tyler Walters and senior Adam Urbania. The offense continued in the second when senior Jake Nogalo hit an RBI single to extend SRU’s early lead.
Junior Alex Bell hit the Rock’s third solo home run of the game in the top half of the third, quickly followed by an RBI single by redshirt junior Kyle Vozar.
Redshirt sophomore Logan Brown homered for the Rock to lead off the fifth inning, and also homered again in the seventh. Brown finished with three RBIs.
“For the most part, our offense hasn’t been a problem,” Rock head coach Jeff Messer said. “We were able to relax with it not being a conference game and the ball was able to carry well. Our guys were relaxed and able to put some good swings on the ball and it definitely worked out in our favor.”
Senior Anton Constantino pitched a complete game for Slippery Rock in game one. He allowed four runs on 10 hits, three runs being earned. Constantino also struck out two while walking one, earning his first win of the season.
Messer was pleased to see Constantino go for the complete game, as he had been looking for opportunities to get him some extended work.
“Anton was really able to figure it out and it was an ideal situation for him,” Messer said. “He went the entire game and we really left it up to him to get the job done. The entire team was rooting for him since he’s struggled early on this season, so it was nice to see him pitch a very good game against a very good team.”
The Rock scored in the top of the first inning of game two, thanks to Nogalo advancing home after a throwing error.
In the top of the second, sophomore Preston Falascino crossed home plate after a sacrifice fly by sophomore Ty Zimmerman. Nogalo hit a two RBI double in the fourth inning, and later scored on an RBI single by freshman Matt Mandes.
Sophomore Carson Kessler hit a two RBI double in the top of the fifth, giving SRU a big enough lead to close out the game with a win.
The Rock used three pitchers in game two, and freshman Stephen McKee was on the mound to start. McKee threw three innings, allowing three runs on six hits, striking out three and walking two.
Redshirt junior Geoff Sanner entered the game in the fourth inning. Sanner pitched two complete innings, striking out two and allowing two runs on three hits.
Sophomore James Divosevic came in to pitch the final two innings of the ball game. He threw two shutout innings and allowed just one hit. Sanner was credited with his first win of the season, while Divosevic earned his third save.
The Rock’s season continues with a four-game home and away series with PSAC rival Gannon University (10-16 overall, 2-10 PSAC)) on Friday. The first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Jack Critchfield Park.
