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LEESBURG, Pa. – Slippery Rock University scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday night but was unable to complete a come-from-behind effort and dropped a 4-3 baseball decision to defending NCAA Division II national champion West Chester University at Pat Thomas Stadium.

The loss was the second consecutive suffered by The Rock (9-4), who began the weekend ranked among the top 25 teams in three national polls.

SRU gets another shot at the reigning kings Sunday when the teams close out their two-game season series with a 3 p.m. single game at Lake Myrtle Park in Auburndale.

West Chester, which evened its season record at 5-5-1, rode a complete-game pitching effort by 2012 first-team All-America performer Joe Gunkel to victory Saturday. Gunkel allowed three earned runs on eight hits, struck out nine and walked one in the process of improving his season record to 3-1.

Rock ace Lou Trivino was tagged with his first loss in four decisions this spring after allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits, striking out four and walking two in six and two-thirds innings of work.

The runs were the first allowed this spring by Trivino, who had also only allowed three hits in his first 21 innings on the mound.

Junior right-handed closer Ryan Oglesby saw his first action of the season and allowed one earned run on two hits, struck out two and walked two in the final two and one-third innings in relief of Trivino.

Junior shortstop Will Kengor and senior first baseman John Shaffer had two hits each to lead The Rock's offensive attack.

Shaffer singled home SRU's first run in the bottom of the first inning before senior Austin Benshadle's two-run, pinch-hit single in the ninth plated the final two tallies.

West Chester took a 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the top of the first inning, then answered the first Rock run with single scores in the third, sixth and ninth innings to take a 4-1 lead into the final half inning of action.

Back-to-back one-out singles by sophomore third baseman Jake Nogalo and Kengor and a walk to junior utilityman Kevin Jovanovich loaded the bases for The Rock in the bottom of the ninth. Benshadle (pictured) plated Nogalo and Kengor with a single up the middle, but that proved to be the extent of The Rock's comeback effort.

SRU, after Sunday's meeting with West Chester, close out their spring-break schedule with single games Monday vs. Minnesota-Duluth, Tuesday vs. Hillsdale (Mich.) and Wednesday vs. Division I Dartmouth.