SRU splits with West Liberty: Rock plays eight games in five days

Published by adviser, Author: Cody Gray - Rocket Contributor, Date: April 4, 2013
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The Slippery Rock baseball team has a record of 19-8 (4-2) after going 5-3 during an eight game in five-day stretch from Thursday through Monday.

The Rock split a doubleheader against West Liberty on Monday afternoon. West Liberty took the first game, however the Green and White took command of the second game, winning 12-0.

On Friday and Saturday, Slippery Rock had a twin bill of doubleheaders against Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference rival Clarion.

The Rock won the series three games to one and proved they can be an offensive force.

Slippery Rock took on Lock Haven in a doubleheader on Thursday afternoon and split the series for the second time in four days.

The Green and White dropped the first game of their doubleheader against West Liberty 6-3.

Junior John Kovalik started the game on the mound for the Rock. Kovalik went five innings giving up five earned runs on nine hits to go along with seven strikeouts. He also walked two batters.

Junior Zac Anderson closed out the game, giving up two hits in two innings of work.

Slippery Rock combined for six hits in the contest. Juniors Will Kengor and Kevin Jovanovich each had two hits. Jovanovich also drove in one of the game’s three runs, along with junior Brandon Myers and senior Austin Benshadle.

Game two of the doubleheader for Slippery Rock was nearly perfect for Slippery Rock.

Junior pitchers Mike Dunn and Anthony Naso combined to allow only two hits, one walk and five strikeouts in SRU’s 12-0 drubbing of West Liberty.

Junior Jake Weibley had an outstanding performance, going three for three with two RBIs and he scored all three times.

Freshman Jordan Faretta drove in three runs for the Rock, while senior Matt Curtis also drove in two runs. Benshadle, Kengor and Myers also drove in a run each.

“As a team we’re hitting the ball well, and pitching the ball even better,” Jovanovich said.

On Friday, Slippery Rock began a four game series against previously winless Clarion. The SRU bats erupted in game one of the series getting 21 hits in a 20-5 drubbing of the Golden Eagles.

Every Rock starter drove in a run during the game. Kengor had five RBIs and junior Graeme Zaparzynski had four. Myers had a solo home run in the contest, also.

Junior Lou Trivino coasted through six innings allowing only one run until the final frame, when Clarion added four more.

In the second game on Friday, the Clarion pitching staff silenced the Green and White batting order.  Sophomore Kyle Schneider pitched well, giving up only one earned run on nine hits while striking

out five.

An error in the fourth inning proved costly for SRU as it led to a run for Clarion.

Senior John Shaffer and Kengor produced the only two Slippery Rock hits of the game. Junior Jake Nogalo drove in Kengor for the Rock’s lone run.

Clarion would score its final run in the bottom of the seventh in walk-off fashion.

On Saturday, in game three of the four game set, Slippery Rock put a solid all-around performance together to beat Clarion for the second time by a 5-1 score.

Sophomore Anton Constantino gave up only two hits and two walks in a full seven innings of work.

The Rock offense gave Constantino plenty of run support off of twelve hits.

SRU claimed the final game and the series with a 5-0 win thanks to a strong pitching performance from redshirt freshman Jon Anderson, who gave up three hits in seven innings of work.

Anderson also threw four strikeouts and no walks. Benshadle went three for three, scoring two runs and driving in one.

Slippery Rock took on Lock Haven Thursday afternoon in yet, another doubleheader.

Sophomore Garret Peterson threw five innings giving up one hit and five strikeouts.

Kovalik finished the game and earned his fifth save of the season. SRU scored their runs in the sixth and seventh inning as they rode their pitching to a 3-0 win.

The second contest against Lock Haven saw the Rock give up seven runs on eight hits.

Shaffer drove in two runs for SRU, but it was not enough, as Slippery Rock dropped the contest 7-3.

“Obviously you want to win every game,” Myers said, “but when you have eight games in five days, that’s very hard to accomplish no matter who you’re playing.”

Slippery Rock will take on Seton Hill Friday in a doubleheader at Jack Critchfield Park.

The Rock will also travel to Seton Hill on Saturday to finish up a three game set.

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