Feb. 24, 2007

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

Chillicothe, Ohio - Matt Adams went 4-for-4 with two doubles and one RBI on Saturday to lead The Rock to a season-opening, doubleheader sweep of Tiffin University in non-conference action at Veterans Administration Memorial Stadium.

Adams was 3-for-3 with an RBI and one double in Game 1 to pace SRU to a 2-0 win, then added a double and two bases on balls in three plate appearances in a 6-5 second-game win.

Derek Blyzwick picked up the Game 1 win with a strong six-inning pitching effort. He allowed only two hits, struck out one and walked two in six innings of work. Rich Hocanson retired all three batters he faced in order in the seventh inning to pick up a save.

Matt Lynn was the Game 2 winner. He allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits and walked one in three innings of relief work.

Mark Tanner was SRU's Game 2 starter and allowed one earned run on two hits, struck out two and walked two in the first three innings. Mike DeCola induced a fly ball from all three batters he faced in the seventh inning to pick up a save.

The Rock had only five hits in Game 1. Adams' RBI single in the third plated Scott Hugney with what proved to be the game-winning run after Hugney had received a base on balls and moved to second on a wild pitch.

Billy Messer's fourth-inning triple accounted for the second Rock run. He plated Ryan Dillon, who had reached on an error and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jim Eimiller.

Billy Herman led The Rock's Game 2 attack with a two-run double. Adams' double accounted for the only other Rock extra-base hit, while Eimiller and Travis Trimbur each had two hits.

The Rock and Tiffin are scheduled to close out their four-game series with a noon doubleheader Sunday in Chillicothe.

SRU is then scheduled to travel to Salem International (W. Va.) for a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Tuesday, followed by a 1 p.m. twinbill Wednesday at Shepherd (W. Va.).

Both Salem International and Shepherd are NCAA Division II North Atlantic Regional rivals of The Rock, who seek to return to NCAA postseason play after sitting out the 2006 competition.