NORTH CANTON, Ohio – The No. 18 Slippery Rock University baseball team scored three runs in the ninth inning, but its comeback fell just short in an 8-7 loss at Walsh University Monday.
 
The loss drops The Rock's record to 30-12 on the season while Walsh improves to 22-20 following the victory. Slippery Rock scored four consecutive runs to open the game only for Walsh to counter with eight straight of its own prior to fending off SRU's late comeback bid.
 
SRU compiled 11 hits over the nine-inning game, three of which came off of home runs by Connor Hamilton, Eddie Morris and Jon Kozarian.
 
Hamilton, who went 2-for-4 on the day with one run, has now hit 14 home runs this season which is tied with Christian Porterfield (2018) and Matt Adams (2009) for the third highest single-season total in program history.
 
The home runs by Morris and Kozarian were the eighth and fourth of the season for each hitter, respectively.
 
Joel Spishock and Koby Bubash both went 2-for-4 with Bubash scoring a pair of runs and driving in another. Evan Knaus had The Rock's other multi-hit game in a 2-for-2, one-RBI effort.
 
Slippery Rock slugged its way to a 4-0 lead over the opening three-and-a-half innings as Morris belted a solo home run in the second before Kozarian and Hamilton posted back-to-back home runs in the third with Kozarian's being a two-run bomb thanks to Bubash being on base.
 
However, SRU's early lead was not safe as Walsh powered its way back into the game thanks to a solo home run by Jacob Beachy in the third and a three-run homer by Matt McGrath in the fifth to even the game at 4-4.
 
The Cavaliers went on to put the game out of reach with four more runs over the next two innings to pull ahead 8-4 through eight innings.
 
SRU attempted to rally back from the deficit in the ninth as it scored three times off of consecutive two-out run-scoring hits by Bubash, Knaus and Abraham Mow, but Walsh reliever Todd Bangtson was able to come on and force a game-ending pop out to close out the narrow home victory.
 
Slippery Rock used four pitchers Monday. Eoin Rossman got the start, allowing four runs on four hits and two walks while striking out two over four innings before giving way to Travis Holman (0-1), who took the loss after surrendering three runs in two innings.
 
Robert Herr and Christian Seelhorst each pitched one inning as well out of The Rock's bullpen. Herr gave up one run to go with two strikeouts while Seelhorst pitched a flawless eighth inning.
 
Beachy hit two home runs to lead Walsh. The Cavaliers used six pitchers against The Rock. Caleb Canter (2-1) earned the win and Bangtson picked up a save.
 
Slippery Rock closes out the regular season this weekend with a four-game series against Mercyhurst University.
 
With spots in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Tournament up for grabs, The Rock and Lakers will first play a doubleheader Friday at Mercyhurst before coming to Critchfield Park for two games Saturday. First pitch on both days is set for 1 p.m.
 
 




To stay up to date with all that happens at The Rock, follow our official athletic communication accounts on Twitter (@Rock_Athletics), Facebook (RockAthletics) and Instagram (RockAthletics).