SLIPPERY ROCK — Catcher Josh Bowser trotted out to the mound to speak with Slippery Rock High sophomore pitcher Gunner Becker.

He didn't say much, but Becker flashed a wide smile.

Bowser then slapped him softly on the cheek, prompting another large grin from Becker.

“He's my boy,” said the Slippery Rock junior catcher. “I usually never say anything baseball related when I go out to the mound.”

“Sometimes we just go out (to the mound) and say stupid things,” added Slippery Rock baseball coach Nate McCollough. “Really, you just get their mind off things. What we say is play the game loose. Have fun.”

It's easy these days for the rolling Rockets to have a good time.

They did again against rival Grove City, scoring three times with two out in the bottom of the first inning on the way to a 6-1 home region win over the Eagles Monday afternoon.

Becker limited Grove City to just two hits — both off the bat of Jordan Anderson — and struck out seven in the complete-game win.

Slippery Rock (13-1, 6-0) clinched at least a part of the region title with the victory.

“A share of the region is like kissing your sister,” McCollough said. “We don't like that.”

Slippery Rock has two region games left, both at home. The final one is against second-place Conneaut May 11.

“I like that we hold our own destiny, that we control what happens,” McCollough said.

Slippery Rock was at its best under pressure against Grove City Monday.

After Eagles' starting pitcher Jesse Hodge got two quick outs to start the bottom of the first inning, he gave up four straight hits.

Danny Williams had a RBI single and Jake Arienzo had a two-run single in the frame.

The Rockets scored two more runs in the sixth inning with two outs on RBI singles by Ryan Lauster and Jason Bennett.

“We preach two-strike approaches,” McCollough said. “Just get the ball in play. Get the barrel to the baseball. This year with two outs we've gotten guys on a lot, and with the way we run the bases, walks turns into doubles, errors turn into doubles. We preach it every game. When you get guys on, anything can happen.”

Grove City baseball coach Bill Herman lamented the clutch hitting of Slippery Rock.

Hodge pitched well for the most part in his three-inning outing. He was just struck by two-out lightning.

“The two-out hitting is how you win baseball games,” Herman said. “They were able to execute that today.”

The loss stings Grove City (10-3, 3-3), which now falls into a precarious playoff position with two region games remaining.

Herman, though, said he and his team aren't thinking about the playoff picture.

“We learned last year you never know how many teams (the District 10 committee) are going to take into the playoffs,” Herman said. “So, there's no point in worrying about that until later on in May. Right now we just have to take care of business in the league and all those chips will fall where they may if we are able to win some more baseball games.”

Grove City 001 000 0 — 1 2 3

Slippery Rock 301 002 x — 6 8 2

W: Gunner Becker 7IP (7K, 3BB). L: Jesse Hodge 3IP (1K, 2BB).

Grove City (10-3, 3-3): Jordan Anderson 2-1B, Hodge RBI

Slippery Rock (13-1, 6-0): Ryan Lauster 1B RBI, Jason Bennett 2-1B RBI, Travis Lauster 1B 2-SB, Danny Williams 1B RBI, Jason Rockburn 2-1B, Jake Arienzo 1B 2-RBI

Wednesday: Meadville at Slippery Rock; Conneut at Grove City