The Rocket

Issue date: 4/25/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Steve Reed Senior catcher Jim Eimiller slides into second base during Slippery Rock's 10-5 loss to Indiana University of Pennsylvania last Saturday at Jack Critchfield Park. The Rock is 21-19 overall, 9-7 in the PSAC-West. [Click to enlarge]

The Slippery Rock baseball team (21-19 overall, 9-7 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-West Division) played a bit like a Paula Abdul song this past week, taking two steps forward, then following with two steps back.

The Rock split back-to-back doubleheaders against Indiana University of Pennsylvania over the weekend, and followed that with two close losses against Shepherd University on Tuesday.

Wildness on the mound played a large role in this week's results.

Starting in game one of Saturday's doubleheader against IUP, SRU's bats came alive, with three-run home runs from both MJ Parsons and Billy Messer to get out to an early 7-0 lead.

Chris Squeglia turned in another fine performance for the Rock, pitching a complete game, giving up three earned runs on eight hits while striking out five.

"Squeglia's been absolutely phenomenal," right fielder Scott Bender said. "For him to come back (from surgery) and have a senior year like this is really awesome."

The game only got wilder, as a total of four defensive errors, six wild pitches and seven walks by IUP allowed SRU to turn that early lead into an 11-4 victory.

The offensive momentum carried over into the second game, as SRU banged out nine hits and benefited from another six walks from the IUP pitching staff to tally 13 runs in the first two innings.

Unfortunately, the starting pitching didn't pan out as Head Coach Jeff Messer had hoped, as starter Rich Hocanson left the game after the first inning with some discomfort in his back.

"It's cut his last couple starts short," said Messer. "It's part of an old injury, and we'll just hope that he can continue to contribute the rest of the way."

Continued...

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