ERIE, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University baseball team was swept in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division doubleheader Sunday at Gannon University.
 
Gannon recorded a 5-4 victory in game one before closing out the day with an 11-1 win in game two. Following the losses, Slippery Rock's record drops to 16-17 overall and 4-12 in the PSAC West while Gannon improves to 14-18 overall and 8-8 inside the conference.
 
Braden Olson had hits in both games Sunday, going a combined 3-for-6 from the plate over the doubleheader with one run scored, one RBI, two doubles and a walk.

GAME ONE: GU 5 – SRU 4
A big third inning for Gannon proved to be the difference in The Rock's 5-4 loss in game one.
 
Slippery Rock jumped out to a quick 3-1 lead through the opening two innings by way of an RBI-double from Alex Robenolt in the first followed by a two-run double off the bat of Cam Panyko Morris in the second.
 
However, Gannon would take its first lead of the game after scoring four runs in a third inning that was highlighted by an Ian Hess home run.
 
The Rock cut into their two-run deficit in fifth after Olson roped a double to right field that plated Robenolt to make it a 5-4 contest before reliever Joe Reitebach was able to record the inning's final out with the game-tying run stranded on third.
 
SRU went on to put runners on base in both the sixth and seventh innings, but could never quite push across the elusive tying run as Gannon hung on for the win.
 
Panyko Morris had two RBI in the opener while Robenolt, Olson, Koby Bubash and Noah Ross all registered two-hit games with Olson also walking once. Robby Barrientos and Joseph Ehland were responsible for Slippery Rock's other two hits in the opener.
 
Luke Trueman (5-2) pitched all six innings in the loss for The Rock, allowing five runs on nine hits with one strikeout.

GAME TWO: GU 11 – SRU 1
Slippery Rock fell behind early and could never catch up as Gannon finished off the doubleheader sweep of The Rock with an 11-1 win in game two.
 
The Golden Knights scored at least three runs in each of the first three innings to put the nightcap away early. The Rock's lone run in game two came in the fourth inning when Jon Kozarian drove a two-out single to centerfield that scored Trueman from second base.
 
Colin Cain led SRU in the defeat by going 2-for-3. Trueman, Olson, Kozarian and Joey Purcell all went 1-for-3 as well with the hits by Olson and Purcell both coming via doubles. Barrientos also reached base on a walk.
 
Nate Malak (0-1) took the loss on the mound after giving up six runs on five hits in 1.1 innings. Tanner Esposito came on for Malak and went 3.2 innings with five runs surrendered on five hits and three walks to go with three strikeouts. Zach Wilson pitched a scoreless sixth inning in place of Esposito.
 
Jacob Engel (2-0) scattered six hits over seven innings as part of a complete-game victory for the Golden Knights.  
 
Slippery Rock returns to competition when it steps out of PSAC West play for a non-conference doubleheader April 18 at Mansfield Univeersity. First pitch of game one is set for 1 p.m. The Rock and the Mounties split a doubleheader earlier in the season at SRU.
 
 



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