April 7, 2004

Box Score

Slippery Rock, Pa. - The Rock managed only two hits in the second game of Wednesday's non-conference doubleheader and lost a 7-1 decision to visiting Shepherd College at Jack Critchfield Park.

Coupled with a 7-5 loss in the first game, the loss marked the second time in as many days that SRU lost both games of a doubleheader.

The Rock (20-14) will look to end its skid on Thursday when it hosts division co-leader California U. of Pa. in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-Western Division doubleheader scheduled to start at 1 p.m.

Shepherd, which had lost 13-7 and 7-3 decisions to The Rock eight days earlier in Shepherdstown, W. Va., improved its record to 12-13.

A solo home run by junior first baseman Billy Wolfe to lead off the bottom of the seventh accounted for the only Rock run.

Senior shortstop Nathan Statzer beat out a slow roller down the third-base line to lead off the first inning for the only other Rock hit in the game.

Shepherd pounded Rock starting and losing pitcher Joe Petti (0-1) for six earned runs on eight hits in the first two and two-thirds innings of the game. Petti did not record a strikeout or a walk.

Freshman right-hander Scott Rice allowed one earned run on three hits, struck out four and walked one in the final four and one-third innings.