Boxscore

AUBURNDALE, Fla. -- The Slippery Rock University baseball team made a valiant comeback effort Sunday afternoon but came up short as Minnesota State handed the Green and White an 8-6 loss at Lake Myrtle Park.

The Mavericks (7-3), who were ranked 22nd in last week's National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Division II national poll, jumped out to a 7-1 lead before SRU (4-5) scored five unanswered runs to make it a game.

The Rock and Minnesota State each received votes in last week's American Baseball Coaches Association Division II national polls. SRU also got votes in the NCBWA national poll.

Senior second baseman Billy Messer had three hits, including a double and a triple, and collected four RBIs to lead The Rock to a 12-6 advantage in hits in Sunday's game. Junior center fielder Matt Howard also had three hits, including a double, for SRU.

Rock starting pitcher Jason Steen was tagged with the loss after he gave up the first seven runs of the game. Steen, a sophomore left-hander, pitched four and two-thirds innings before he gave way to sophomore righty Cory Johnson, who allowed one run in three and two-thirds innings. Junior righty George Hebert pitched two-thirds of an inning of scoreless ball to close out the top of the ninth inning.

SRU had the potential tying run on base when the final out was recorded in the bottom of the ninth.

The Rock returns to the diamond at 9:30 a.m. Monday, when it will take on Northwood University of Michigan in a nine-inning single game.

SRU then meets NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional rival Charleston (W. Va.) in a 4:30 p.m. single game Tuesday.