April 21, 2007

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

Slippery Rock, Pa. - The Rock, after sweeping a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-Western Division doubleheader from visiting Clarion by 4-1 and 11-0 scores Saturday at Jack Critchfield Park, is now one win away from locking up a berth in the PSAC playoffs.

Saturday's wins, coupled with a split in the doubleheader between California (Pa.) and Indiana (Pa.), moved SRU into a tie with California for second place in the PSAC-West with one season series left to play in the season.

SRU (26-12 overall, 11-5 PSAC-West) and California (27-12, 11-5) are currently one game behind division-leading Shippensburg (22-15, 12-4). That sets the stage for a whale of a four-game series next weekend between The Rock and Shippensburg.

The Rock, after traveling to West Liberty State (W. Va.) for a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday, will host Shippensburg in a 1 p.m. twinbill Friday at Critchfield Park. The teams then head for Fairchild Field in Shippensburg for the final two games of the series.

SRU needs one win next weekend to lock up a berth in the PSAC playoffs, which have added significance this season in the fact that the tournament will be held May 2-5 at Critchfield Park.

Game 1

Scott Bender and Rich Michalek had two hits each to lead a nine-hit Rock attack in Saturday's first game.

Phil Butch's second home run of the season, a solo shot to lead off the bottom of the first inning, gave SRU a quick 1-0 lead.

After Clarion tied the score at 1-1 in the top of the second, Billy Messer lined a one-out RBI single to left center in the bottom of the second inning to put The Rock on top for good. Bender's leadoff double opened the frame.

Michalek's two-run single down the left field line in the bottom of the sixth produced insurance tallies. Bender started the rally with a single before Jacob Oswalt walked and Messer laid down a sacrifice bunt to set the table for Michalek.

The three scoring rallies gave Josh Rape all the offensive support he would need to record his third win in four decisions this spring and record his first complete game of the campaign. Rape scattered five hits, allowed one earned run and struck out five in his seven innings of work.

Game 2

The Rock waltzed to victory in Saturday's second game as the hosts scored two runs in the bottom of the first inningm, added four tallies in the third and then exploded for five runs in the fourth.

M.J. Parsons was 3-for-4 with one RBI to lead a 12-hit Rock offensive attack while Matt Adams and Dan Hudeck had two hits each. One of Adams' hits was a solo home run to straightaway center field, his third circuit clout of the season.

Rock starting and winning pitcher Craig Misiewicz didn't need that much offensive support to improve his record to 3-2 as he allowed only one hit in five innings of work.

A leadoff single by Clarion catcher J.T. Baker in the top of the fifth inning ruined Misiewicz's no-hitter.

Misiewicz struck out four and walked two before giving way to Chris Squeglia, who fanned three in a pair of hitless innings.

Notes:

>li> Saturday's sweep was the second in as many days vs. Clarion -- SRU won 12-6 and 6-4 decisions Friday in Clarion -- and the seventh in 16 twinbills The Rock has played this spring. SRU had settled for splits in four straight twinbills prior to the back-to-back sweeps of Clarion.