SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -  The Slippery Rock University baseball team split a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division doubleheader against Gannon University Friday evening at Critchfield Park.
 
After losing game one, 9-7, Slippery Rock regrouped to salvage the day with a 5-1 victory in game two. The split moves SRU's record to 16-15 overall and 5-10 in the PSAC West while the Golden Knights are now 12-18 overall and 6-8 inside the conference.
 
Slippery Rock was led on the day by Luke Trueman, who continued his outstanding senior season by going a combined 4-for-6 over the doubleheader with three runs scored, one home run and three RBI. In addition to his team-leading seventh home run of 2023, Trueman also collected two more extra-base hits in the form of a pair of doubles while making a diving catch in game two.
 
Joseph Ehland extended his hitting streak to a Rock-best nine games with a 4-for-8 performance during the doubleheader that included one run scored, two RBI and two stolen bases. Koby Bubash also collected hits in each game, going 3-for-6 with one run, one RBI and a walk.
 
Before pitching perhaps his best game in a Rock uniform to secure a SRU win in game two, Joey Purcell drove in one run with a double in the opener.
 
GAME ONE: GU 9 – SRU 7
Slippery Rock battled back from an early six-run deficit to pull even with Gannon late in game one, but its comeback bid ultimately fell just short in an eventual 9-7 loss.
 
Trailing 6-0 after a half inning of play, The Rock began to chip away at the GU lead with four straight runs. Bubash and Trueman produced matching run-scoring singles in the bottom of the first followed two innings later by a sacrifice fly from Noah Ross, which plated Braden Olson, and an RBI-double from Trueman to make it a 6-4 contest.
 
While the Golden Knights would get one run back in the fourth frame, Slippery Rock continued its rally with three runs in the fifth that was capped off by Purcell's RBI-double to make it a 7-7 contest entering the game's final innings.
 
However, after a scoreless sixth inning, Gannon put the game away in the seventh with two runs in the top of the inning followed by reliever Ryan Smerkar retiring SRU in order in the bottom of the inning to close out the narrow two-run win.
 
The Rock tallied nine hits in the opener with Ehland, Bubash, Trueman and Alex Robenolt all producing two-hit showings. Trueman drove in two runs while Robenolt scored twice in addition to walking once as well.
 
Devin Dunn was The Rock's game-one starter. He gave up six runs on six hits and two walks over two innings before giving way to Parker Hogge (0-1) in the third inning.
 
Hogge was solid for much of the day as he scattered three runs, only one of which was earned, on six hits in 4.2 innings pitched for what was the longest outing of his collegiate career. Jake Norris replaced Hogge in the seventh to record the inning's final out.
 
Gannon reliever Jaret Boyer (2-2) was the pitcher of record for the Golden Knights after allowing three unearned runs in 2.2 innings. Smerkar's save was his first of the year. Starter Kevin Schott received a no-decision after giving up four runs in 3.1 innings.
 
GAME TWO: SRU 5 – GU 1
Slippery Rock parlayed a great showing on the mound by Purcell with timely hitting as it secured a 5-1 victory in the nightcap to avoid the doubleheader sweep.
 
Purcell tossed a complete-game three hitter in which he allowed just one run while working around a pair of walks and three hit batters in addition to posting five strikeouts on the way to his first collegiate victory.
 
Another group effort supplied SRU's offense as Trueman led the pack with a 2-for-2, two-run, one-home run, one walk outing. The home run was his fourth over a five-game stretch.
 
Ehland also had two hits while driving in a pair of runs and stealing his team-leading sixth base of the season. Rounding out The Rock's leaders in game two was Ross (2-for-3, two runs), Olson (one RBI), Bubash (1-for-2, one walk) and Colin Cain (1-for-3).
 
Gannon scored one run on three hits in the first inning before being kept in check the remainder of the game by Purcell, who didn't surrender a hit over the final six innings with any GU's baserunners the rest of the night coming by of walks or being hit. Only two Golden Knights reached scoring position after the first inning.
 
Ross ignited another Rock rally by registering a leadoff single in the second inning to bring Trueman to the plate, who in turn belted a home run to right field to give The Rock a one-run lead it would never relinquish.
 
While they turned out to not be needed, SRU added three insurance runs in the sixth off a two-run single by Ehalnd and an RBI-single by Olson to cap off a much-needed victory.
 
Dylan Crowley, who came on for starting pitcher Kieran Versaw-Barnes in the second inning, took the loss for Gannon after giving up five runs on seven hits and three walks in 4.2 innings. Fellow reliever Evan Harrison accounted for the final out in the seventh.  
 
The Rock and Golden Knights will conclude their four-game series with a Sunday doubleheader at Gannon. First pitch from McConnell Family Field 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).