March 28, 2007

Box Score

Slippery Rock, Pa. - M.J. Parsons had two hits, including a double, to pace The Rock attack in a 6-2 loss Wednesday afternoon to NCAA Division I Duquesne at Jack Critchfield Park.

The loss was SRU's third in its last four outings and dropped the Green and White's season record to 12-6.

The Rock will look to bounce back and open the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-Western Division schedule on a winning note Friday when it hosts two-time defending division champion California U. of Pa. in a 1 p.m. doubleheader.

The same two teams will meet at Falconi Field in Washington, Pa., in a 1 p.m. twinbill Saturday.

Duquesne (10-9) scored three runs in the top of the first inning on a pair of hits and one Rock error and never looked back en route to its sixth win in the last seven games.

But the guests had to withstand a pair of Rock rallies before they could chalk up the "W."

Trailing 3-0, The Rock "ran itself out" of a possible rally in the fourth inning, then squandered a bases-loaded, one-out opportunity in the fifth frame.

Dan Hudeck lined a one-out single into the left-field corner but was gunned down trying to stretch the hit into a double. That out took on added significance when the next batter, Parsons, lined a single into right field and Jim Eimiller walked.

Instead of having the bases loaded with one out or possibly scoring its first run of the game on Parsons' single, The Rock had runners on first and second with two outs. The inning ended harmlessly with an infield popup out by Travis Trimbur.

A bunt single by Billy Messer, a fielding error on a ground ball by Rich Michalek and a walk to Billy Herman loaded the bases with one out in The Rock fifth. Two strikeouts, one swinging and one called, left the bases loaded.

The wasted opportunity became more painful when Duquesne came right back with a run in the top of the sixth to extend its lead to 4-0 and added two unearned tallies in the seventh to make it a 6-0 game.

The Rock finally put a crooked number on the scoreboard, and averted the shutout, in its final at-bat in the nine-inning game.

Scott Bender lined a one-out single through the left side of the Dukes infield and Kyle Smith doubled to right center field before a ground out by Michalek plated the first Rock run. Phil Butch's single up the middle brought Smith home with the second run before a called third strike accounted for the final out of the game.

Rock starting and losing pitcher Craig Misiewicz (1-2) allowed four earned runs on six hits, struck out two and walked two in the first six innings.

Rock head coach Jeff Messer used three relievers for an inning each to close out the game.

Scott Rice allowed two unearned runs on two hits and struck out one before Sean Holliday and Mike DeCola each retired the side in order.