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GREENSBURG, Pa. – Hosting Seton Hill University scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning Sunday afternoon to hand Slippery Rock University a 7-5 defeat in a battle of nationally-ranked NCAA Division II Atlantic Region teams.
With the win, Seton Hill, the No. 25 team in the latest American Baseball Coaches Association/Collegiate Baseball Newspaper national poll, improved its season record to 25-7 and won the season series vs. SRU by a 2-1 margin.
SRU, the No. 30 team in the ABCA/CBN poll, saw its season record fall to 20-10.
Seton Hill and SRU were ranked first and fifth, respectively, in the latest National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association regional poll.
Sophomore right-hander
Kyle Schneider was tagged with the loss Sunday after he allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits in seven and one-third innings. Schneider, who saw his season record drop to 4-2, struck out two and walked four.
Junior right-hander
John Kovalik, SRU's closer, relieved Schneider but was unable to contain the Griffins. Kovalik allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits and struck out one in the final two-thirds of an inning.
The Rock offense collected 13 hits in the game, led by junior outfielder
Graeme Zaparzynski's 3-for-4, two-RBI effort. Senior second baseman
Matt Curtis and senior shortstop
Will Kengor had two hits and one RBI each and junior first baseman
Kevin Jovanovich added an RBI single.
SRU led by a 3-0 score midway through the fifth inning before Seton Hill scored seven unanswered runs. The Rock scored two runs in the top of the ninth to close the final margin to two runs.
The first Rock run was scored in the top of the first inning. Kengor and Zaparzynski opened the game with back-to-back singles before Jovanovich slapped an RBI single.
SRU expanded its lead to 3-0 with two tallies in the top of the fifth, keyed by RBI singles from Curtis and Zaparzynski after junior catcher
Ryan LaRose led off the inning with a single.
Seton Hill responded with two runs on one hit in the bottom of the fifth and tied the score at 3-3 on Mike Cima solo home run in the sixth.
The Griffins then scored four runs on two hits and two Rock errors in the bottom of the eighth to take a 7-3 lead.
The Rock didn't go down without a fight, though, as they scored two runs in the top of the ninth. Sophomore third baseman
Jordan Faretta started the rally with a leadoff single and scored on an RBI triple by Kengor, who then trotted home on a sacrifice fly the Zaparzynski.
Sunday's game was the first of five consecutive road games The Rock will play. SRU travels to Mansfield for a 1 p.m. doubleheader Tuesday, then visits Mercyhurst for a 1 p.m twinbill Friday.
The next Rock home game is scheduled for Friday at 1 p.m., when the Green and White will close out their four-game season series vs. Mercyhurst.
