COLONIAL HEIGHTS, Va. – The Slippery Rock University baseball team snapped its five-game losing streak in convincing fashion Monday with an 18-5 victory over Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division rival California (Pa.) in non-league play on the final day of the Dinwiddie Invitational.
As a whole, Slippery Rock's bats were dynamic all day. Seven starters recorded multi-hit afternoons in
Ty Zimmerman (4-for-7),
James Divosevic (4-for-6),
Tyler Walters (3-for-5),
Alex Bell (3-for-5),
Preston Falascino (2-for-6),
Christian Porterfield (2-for-5) and
Mitchell Wood (2-for-3).
Walters displayed his power for a third consecutive day with two home runs and a career-best seven RBI against the Vulcans. Walters has now hit four home runs over his last four games. Just eight games into his sophomore season, the reigning PSAC West Freshman of the Year already ranks 10th in Rock history for home runs in a career with 17. Only 11 home runs separate Walters from Kevin Keryan, who ranks second in program history with 28 collegiate home runs.
Zimmerman, who scored three runs and drove in two others, set a personal-best with his four hits. Divosevic's four hits were also a personal single-game high while his two RBI matched his previous single-game best.
Falascino drove in five runs on his two hits, one of which being his first home run of the season. Bell's three-hit outing marked his 13th game at Slippery Rock with at least three hits.
Slippery Rock got a much-needed solid performance from its pitching staff.
Matt Gordon (1-0) picked up the win after going six innings and striking out four Vulcans while scattering six hits, two runs and one walk.
Stephen McKee and
Logan Brown combined to throw the final three innings out of The Rock's bullpen. McKeee gave up three runs in two innings while Brown pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
SRU jumped out to a quick 5-1 lead through the opening two innings and never looked back en route to the win. While Gordon kept the Vulcans' bats in check, The Rock's offense came alive for 13 runs in the following four innings to cruise to the victory in a game that was never in question.
Matt Carter was the pitcher of record for California. He gave up five runs on six hits and one walk in two innings.
Slippery Rock now sets its sights on Florida, where it will play 11 games over an eight-day stretch March 5-12 at the Russmatt Invitational in Auburndale, Florida. The Rock's opponents in Florida include Northwood University, Saint Joseph's College, Ashland University, Minnesota Duluth, West Chester and Grand Valley State.
