Due to a rainy Friday evening, the Slippery Rock baseball team shifted their four-game series against Gannon University. SRU hosted Gannon for a doubleheader on Saturday to then travel to McConnell Family Stadium for another doubleheader on Sunday.
Game One
The Golden Knights jumped out into an early lead in the top of the second with two solo home runs from Wes Parker and Connor Smith. Rock Pitcher Gage Gillott struck out the next three batters.
In the bottom of the second, Clay Wiesen walked, and a double from Darryn Callahan advanced him to third. After a sacrifice fly, Wiesen scored to put The Rock on the scoreboard.
The White and Green tied the game an inning later when Jack Robinson was driven in by Treston Nemeth.
Gannon reclaimed their lead at the top of the fourth when Ian Soto scored unearned, but the advantage did not last long.
Slippery Rock sparked in the bottom of the fourth. With two outs and two on base, momentum picked up. Gillott singled it to left field, reaching second on an error. Luke Anderton advanced to third to send Wiesen home.
Robinson also hit a single but advanced to second on a throwing error with two RBIs (runs batted in).
After the three-run inning for SRU, Gannon made a pitching change, sending in Brady Berdin, but that did not stump the momentum.
The White and Green scored two more times, both unearned.
Gannon was quick to retaliate. After an RBI that brought the score to 7-4, Matt Smith homered to left field for three RBIs, sending Smith and Parker home with him.
With the score knotted at seven and two Rock runners on base, Gillott singled to left field for Callahan to score.
Gannon brought it back in the seventh inning. Smith grounded it out to shortstop, but Hunter Troia scored.
In the bottom of the seventh, after Max Bernadowski struck out looking, Brandon Butler replaced Anderton in the batter’s box but fouled it out to the catcher. Gillott walked to first, and after several attempts, Jake Robinson homered it right down the right field line for a double RBI.
Game two
After a hard-fought 10-7 win and a short break, Cole Grady opened up game two on the mound for The Rock. After grounding out Gannon’s first batter, Hunter Troia walked. After another groundout, he stole second and advanced to third on an error. Troia was left on base behind a third groundout.
The next 3.5 innings were a dry spell for both teams, not getting a single runner on base.
Gannon broke that drought in the top of the fifth when Matt Smith singled it up the middle. A walk came next, but both runners were left on base after a flyout to center field.
The Rock got their first batter on base in the bottom of the sixth. Wiesen doubled to the center and advanced to third on a groundout. But a flyout from Gillott left him stranded.
The Golden Knights were first to put points on the board in the seventh. With bases loaded, Troia walked, which allowed Smith to score.
The White and Green could not get a batter on base, and Gannon won 1-0.
Game three
The following two games took place in Erie, Pa. This time, Slippery Rock was first in the batter’s box. Gillott got hit by a pitch and advanced all the way to third base after Nemeth singled to right field. Another single from Kitko allowed him to score.
The Rock kept their early lead. Gaining another run at the top of the third with a home run from Wiesen, followed by two more in the fourth on RBIs.
Gannon earned their first runs of the game during the bottom of the fourth. With a man on first and second, Tommy Koroly doubled down the right field line for a double RBI.
SRU only added to the deficit with an unearned run in the sixth and another in the seventh, bringing the score to 6-2.
The bottom of the seventh is where the Golden Knights sparked their momentum. Bases were loaded, and Slippery Rock made a pitching change, bringing in freshman Nolan Comerford. With Parker at bat, he singled it to third base to bring in a run for Gannon. Another one followed with another single to that side of the field. The final straw came from Chris Mullin when he substituted for Drew Stangel in the batter’s box. Still with bases loaded, Mullin smacked it out of the park for a grand slam, bringing the score to 8-6.
Game four
After the loss, The Rock looked to turn it around in game four, starting strong with an RBI to send Gillott home.
GU responded quickly with an unearned run in the bottom of the second, followed by three more in the third, behind two RBIs and scoring on a balk.
Gannon continued to add to the deficit with another RBI in the fifth, the score now 5-1.
Slippery Rock cut it back an inning later when Callahan and Kitko both scored unearned after a single to center field. Butler added to that total with another run after a defensive error.
With The Rock sitting just a point behind the Golden Knights, they were unable to get another run off, leaving two runners on base in the seventh. Gannon won 5-4.
Slippery Rock baseball holds a record of 18-14 for the season so far and drops to 6-10 inside the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). The team takes a break from conference play when they travel to Ohio to take on Walsh University.
