SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University baseball team was swept in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division doubleheader by Seton Hill University Friday at Critchfield Park.
 
After losing 6-2 to the Griffins in the opener, SRU dropped a narrow 1-0 decision in game two. Friday's losses move The Rock's record to 24-14 overall and 14-8 in the PSAC West while Seton Hill improves to 31-12 overall and 15-7 in league games.
 
With six conference games remaining in the regular season, Slippery Rock sits fourth in the PSAC West standings – just one game behind Seton Hill and Mercyhurst for second place and three in front of fifth-place California. The top four teams in the division standings at the end of the season qualify for the PSAC Tournament.
 
Michael Kitko and Eddie Morris were the lone Rock batters to collect hits in both games of Friday's doubleheader.
 
Kitko, who has now reached base safely in 18 consecutive games, went a combined 3-for-7 over the doubleheader with one run scored while Morris was 2-for-5 with one run and one RBI. Both of Morris' hits came by way of doubles.

GAME ONE: SHU 6 – SRU 2
A five-run third inning proved to be the difference in Seton Hill's 6-2 game one victory.
 
Slippery Rock struck first in the opener when Robby Barrientos shot a two-out single to centerfield which plated Morris, who doubled earlier in the inning.
 
The Rock's lead was short-lived as SHU posted five runs the next half inning. Braden Durham hit a two-run home run followed later in the frame by a two-RBI Elijah Snider single and a final run-scoring base hit off the bat of Owen Mandler.  
 
SHU went on to tally an additional insurance run an inning later on another Durham RBI.
 
Slippery Rock's best chance for a rally came in the sixth inning when SRU loaded the bases with one out.
 
However, The Rock managed just one run – a Morris sacrifice flyout which scored Kitko – as Griffin reliever Michael Marinchak limited the damage by forcing an inning-ending fielder's choice ground out to end the threat before working around a two-out walk in the seventh to finish off the win.
 
Kitko accounted for two of The Rock's five hits in game one in what was a 2-for-4, one-run performance. Morris, Barrientos and Braden Olson all had hits as well with Morris and Barrientos each driving in runs.
 
The duo of Koby Bubash and Brandon Butler both reached base twice with a pair of walks each.
 
Gage Gillott (6-3) was the pitcher of record for The Rock after allowing six runs on nine hits with five strikeouts over six innings. Mark Wilbur Jr. pitched a scoreless seventh inning out of the SRU bullpen.
 
Brandon Bergert (4-2) picked up the win for Seton Hill. He scattered two runs on five hits and four walks before giving way to Marinchak, who threw 1.2 shutout innings.

GAME TWO: SHU 1 – SRU 0
The Griffins took advantage of a Slippery Rock error to score the lone run of game two for a tight 1-0 win.
 
Nate Malak (3-1) was great for The Rock in his fifth start of the season. He struck out six batters over 6.2 innings, giving up just one unearned run and limiting the Griffins to a mere two hits and a walk. Joey Vanzin took over in the bottom of the seventh to register the final out of the inning.
 
Seton Hill's Jon McCullough (3-2) was also impressive on the mound in what was a pitcher's duel for the duration of Friday's nightcap. He earned the complete-game shutout with six strikeouts and just four hits allowed.
 
SRU's hits came on singles by Gillott, Kitko and Tyler Cerame as well as another double from Morris. Leadoff hitter Joey Purcell reached base once on a walk as well.
 
With the game rooted in a scoreless tie entering the fifth inning, Malak recorded two quick outs before Owen Henne snuck in a single. Henne would then score two pitches later after a Rock throwing error off a ground ball hit by Jack Whalen.
 
The one-run advantage turned out to be enough for Seton Hill. McCullough surrendered just two hits over the final three innings en route to eventual 1-0 win.
 
The Rock and Griffins close out their four-game conference series with another doubleheader Saturday at Seton Hill. First pitch of game one is set for 1 p.m.




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