The Slippery Rock baseball team (8-29, 3-15) was swept in a doubleheader by Gannon University (24-11, 12-6) on Saturday, despite a strong effort in game two.
After being overwhelmed by the Golden Knights in an 11-3 loss in game one, the Rock fell short 2-0 in a close game two.
For the first four innings of game one, The Rock did not have an answer for Gannon at the plate. The Golden Knight’s senior infielder Chris Beer brought the first run of the day in with a solo home-run at the bottom of the second inning. Gannon would extend its lead to 9-0 after scoring four runs in both the third and fourth innings before SRU would respond.
In the top of the fifth the Green and White had its first runs of the game. Rock junior outfielder/pitcher James Divosevic hit a two-run single to put SRU on the board. That was one of two hits for Divosevic in the game and one of 6 for The Rock. Gannon would respond back in their next at bat with two runs of its own. The Rock would score its final run of the contest in the seventh.
The Rock turned its performance around in game two, but came out with the same result.
A strong pitching game by both teams left each side scoreless for 5 innings. Rock sophomore pitcher Alex Pantuso only allowed 3 hits in 5 innings before being replaced in the sixth inning after he gave up a single and walked two batters to load the bases. Sophomore pitcher Andrew Null would be his replacement.
Null gave up two runs, one off a walk and the other a sacrifice fly, to put Gannon ahead. SRU was never able to recover.
In game one, four other players made offensive contributions. Senior first basemen Alex Bell, junior third basemen/pitcher Preston Falascino, sophomore catcher/outfield Tyler Walters, and junior outfielder Ty Zimmerman each contributed one hit for the Rock.
Senior pitcher John Anderson allowed nine runs on 14 hits in 3.1 innings. Sophomore pitcher Stephen McKee allowed four hits and two runs in 1.2 innings after coming on for Anderson in relief.
Only three Rock players accounted for hits in a weak hitting performance. Bell, freshman second basemen Joe Campagna, and sophomore catcher Chris Porterfield each accounted for three hits.
With only 12 games left in the season, it will be a tough battle for The Rock to achieve its postseason goals, especially in a conference it is not performing well against.
