SRU baseball ends road trip with lossAUBURNDALE, Fla. — The Slippery Rock University baseball team ended its season-opening southern trip Saturday with a 6-1 loss to Grand Valley State.The Rock exits nonconference play with a 5-14 record and begins PSAC West play with a doubleheader at Pitt-Johnstown Friday. The teams will play two games at SRU's Critchfield Park at 1 p.m. Saturday.James Divosevic was the losing pitcher Saturday, allowing four runs in six innings. Kyle Wise had an RBI single for SRU. Alex Bell had two of the Rock's six hits.Tyler Walters is riding an eight-game hitting streak for SRU while Bell has hit in six straight contests.

Rock QB Nania heads to AustraliaSLIPPERY ROCK — Slippery Rock University senior quarterback Dante Nania has signed a professional football contract with the North Coast Heat of the National Gridiron League in Australia.The league is beginning its inaugural season this fall. Most of the rosters are being filled by players from the United States, including many Division I collegians.Nania guided SRU to a 12-2 record and PSAC championship last season. He set single-season Rock records of 250 completions and 456 attempts. His 3,121 yards passing were second-most in SRU history.

SV graduate Blagg player of weekERIE — Seneca Valley graduate and Penn State Behrend catcher Sarah Blagg has been named Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Softball Athlete of the Week.Blagg hit .600 (12 for 20) with 12 runs scored and seven RBI over 10 games in Clermont, Fla. She had two doubles, two triples and a home run.

Giants’ pitcher Cueto hit by linerMESA, Ariz. — San Francisco Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto shows no initial signs of a concussion or serious injury after he was hit in the head by a line drive during a 10-2 loss to the Oakland Athletics.Cueto was struck in the forehead by Billy Burns’ liner on his first pitch Monday night, knocking off his cap. The ball caromed into center field for a double.The right-hander was examined by team trainers, took a couple of warmups and finished his three-inning stint.