March 30, 2005

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

Slippery Rock, Pa. - Derek Blyzwick and Jeremy Becker delivered clutch pitching performances Wednesday afternoon to propel the sixth-ranked Rock to a 3-0, 2-1 doubleheader sweep vs. Shepherd in NCAA Division II North Atlantic Regional action at Jack Critchfield Park.

Blyzwick scattered five hits, struck out three and walked three in a seven-inning complete-game effort in the first game to become the first Rock pitcher to toss a shutout this spring. The win was Blyzwick's second in three decisions this spring.

Becker allowed one earned run on four hits, struck out five and walked two in the first five innings of the second game to pick up his second win in as many decisions.

Dan Herisko pitched the final inning of the second game to pick up his fifth save of the season.

Wednesday's wins were the second and third straight for The Rock, improved the Green and White's overall record to 18-2 and its record against regional rivals to 13-2.

SRU is ranked sixth in this week's Collegiate Baseball newspaper national poll, seventh in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America national poll and first in the NCBWA regional poll.

The first-game decision snapped an eight-game win streak for Shepherd (12-8), the No. 7 team in this week's NCBWA regional poll.

Chase Rowe was 2-for-3 with two RBIs to lead a seven-hit Rock attack in the first game. Matt Kozusko added a double and had a sacrifice fly to plate the first Rock run.

Kozusko also had a sacrifice fly to account for the winning run in the second game after Matt Messer's RBI single plated The Rock's first run.

The Rock had only four hits in the second game.

Josh Rape relieved Becker in the sixth inning and struck out two and allowed two hits in one inning of work before Herisko shut the door on Shepherd's comeback effort.

The Rock got five of its seven first-game hits in the third inning and parlayed the hits into all three of its runs.

SRU then got three of its four second-game hits in the third inning, when it scored both of its runs.

Shepherd used two of its six second-game hits to score its only run of the day in the top of the fifth inning to cut The Rock lead to 2-1.

The Rock is scheduled to return to action (weather permitting) on Friday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader against Indiana U. of Pa. to open the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-Western Division schedule.

Link to Rock's 2005 cumulative statistics