Slippery Rock baseball claws back to beat Sharon
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Austan Runtas pitches against Sharon during a baseball game on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated Sharon 4-3 in a baseball game on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated Sharon 4-3 in a baseball game on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated Sharon 4-3 in a baseball game on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated Sharon 4-3 in a baseball game on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated Sharon 4-3 in a baseball game on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated Sharon 4-3 in a baseball game on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated Sharon 4-3 in a baseball game on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated Sharon 4-3 in a baseball game on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated Sharon 4-3 in a baseball game on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated Sharon 4-3 in a baseball game on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated Sharon 4-3 in a baseball game on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated Sharon 4-3 in a baseball game on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated Sharon 4-3 in a baseball game on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated Sharon 4-3 in a baseball game on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated Sharon 4-3 in a baseball game on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated Sharon 4-3 in a baseball game on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Owen Long slides into third base during a baseball game on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated Sharon 4-3 in a baseball game on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Isaac McCandless (13) and Casey Darr (27) celebrate after scoring in a baseball game on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated Sharon 4-3 in a baseball game on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Outfielder Doug Popovec catches a hit by Sharon during a baseball game on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated Sharon 4-3 in a baseball game on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
SLIPPERY ROCK — A baseball team can’t consistently rely on late-inning outbursts to win games, but Slippery Rock has managed to do just that in its last two contests.
In Monday’s matchup with Grove City, the Rockets plated three runs in the seventh inning to tie the score before earning a 10-8 victory.
Wednesday afternoon, it was Sharon that saw a 3-0 lead evaporate thanks to Slippery Rock’s four-run fifth frame that sparked a 4-3 victory at home that kept the Rockets (4-0, 3-0) unbeaten.
“We preach to the players that it’s a seven-inning ballgame,” SR coach Tyler Friel said. “If we don’t get breaks early on, then they have to come through late.”
Through the first four innings against the Tigers (4-2, 1-2), Sharon starting pitcher Ethan Engelmore kept the Rockets off the scoreboard while allowing just two hits. But a throwing error to lead off the bottom of the fifth — Sharon’s only miscue in the game — allowed Connor Zorn to reach base and Slippery Rock cashed in.
Austin Kura followed with a single and Casey Darr walked to load the bases.
Zorn scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Owen Long. Isaac McCandless singled in one run and the Rockets took the lead on Jacob Kunsman’s two-out, two-run base hit.
Engelmore was pulled after allowing two more singles to Bryce Covert and Doug Popovec.
“Engelmore is a really good pitcher. He beat us in a big game last year,” Friel said. “This is just our fourth game of the season and facing more live pitching is crucial for us. The lineup, one through nine, is contributing.”
Pitching 4 2/3 innings, Engelmore took the loss after striking out six, walking a pair and allowing the four runs on seven hits. He entered the game with 24 strikeouts in 17 innings.
“We feel we have a good young pitching staff, but he’s our ace,” Sharon coach Chris Buchman said. “I am not disappointed with our effort today. If you play baseball long enough, you’re going to run into a bad inning.”
The Tigers made things interesting in the top of the seventh. With one out, Owen Schenker walked, stole second and moved to third on a groundout. But Covert, who relieved starter Austan Runtas at the start of the sixth, tallied his second strikeout to end the game.
Runtas weathered an early storm, surrendering three runs (one earned) on three hits over the first three innings. It could have been worse as he stranded a pair of runners in scoring position in that span.
Will Beckert had an RBI-single and Logan Perks an RBI-double for the Tigers, who benefitted from a Slippery Rock error in each of the first three innings.
“Sharon likes to play small ball and Austan did a good job of limiting their big inning,” Friel said.
Runtas fanned five and walked one to earn the win.
Sharon 201 000 0 — 3 7 1
Slippery Rock 000 040 x — 4 8 3
W: Austan Runtas 5 IP (5K, 1BB). L: Ethan Engelmore 4.2 IP (6K, 2BB). S: Bryce Covert 2 IP (2K, 3BB).
Sharon (4-2, 1-2): Will Beckert 1B R RBI, Derek Douglas R RBI, Logan Perks 2B RBI, Carmine Thomas 2-1B
Slippery Rock (4-0, 3-0): Isaac McCandless 1B R RBI, Jacob Kunsman 1B 2RBI, Bryce Covert 2-1B, Connor Zorn 2B R, Austin Kura 1B R, Owen Long R RBI
Monday: Slippery Rock at Oil City
