Slumping SRU drops twinbill to Clarion

By JOHN ENRIETTO Eagle Sports Editor

April 11, 2005 Last Updated: April 11, 2005 03:30 PM College

SLIPPERY ROCK - Talk about your turnarounds.

Early last week, Slippery Rock University's baseball team was 22-2, off to its best start ever and climbing toward the top of the Division II national rankings.

Since then, SRU has had a win stripped from the record books and has dropped five out of six, including a 4-3, 2-1 doubleheader loss to Clarion Saturday at Critchfield Park.

The Rock had a 5-1 win over Bloomsburg in Fort Myers, Fla., last month stricken from the books because it was a single game scheduled for seven innings. NCAA rules state that single games must be nine innings and that long-ignored rule is being enforced this season.

The visiting Golden Eagles won three out of four from The Rock over the weekend.

"I know this is the first time Clarion's beaten us three out of four games in a season since I've been here," SRU coach Jeff Messer said. "I don't think I've ever lost two out of four to them.

"And we didn't give them anything. They came in here and took it."

The twinbill loss dropped The Rock to 5-3 in the PSAC West, trailing California and now Clarion (6-2). The top three teams from the PSAC West and East make the conference tournament.

"It's going to come down to the three of us and Shippensburg," Messer said. "We're just not hitting with guys on base right now. These two games looked very similar to last year.

"If we don't snap out of it, we'll end up like last year … with 30 wins and out of the playoffs."

Mars graduate Brad Adamski, a senior starting pitcher for Clarion, shut down SRU in the first game. He worked 5

innings before leaving with a 4-3 lead. Chuck Roller wound up getting saves in both games for the Golden Eagles.

All three runs scored against Adamski were unearned. The Rock entered the twinbill leading the PSAC with a .333 team batting averaging.

"That lineup is so dangerous," Adamski said. "You never know when they're going to break out. I was able to spot my pitches, keep them off-balance and throw strikes."

Adamski walked only one batter in winning his second game of the week. He defeated Lock Haven Monday.

Clarion left-hander Jared Frey held SRU to five hits in the second game. The Golden Eagles bunched together four hits in the fourth inning to overcome a 1-0 lead.

Doug Brown doubled home the tying run. He scored himself when a ground ball, deflected by Rock pitcher Troy Wilson, eluded the grasp of second baseman Chase Rowe.

"Chase tried to bare-hand the ball when he'd have been better off just gloving it," Messer said. "But he was trying to make a play. I can't fault him for that.

"Either way, two runs shouldn't be enough to beat us."

Nick Armstrong and Wilson threw complete games in losing efforts for SRU. Armstrong threw 110 pitches in the first game. Wilson threw 116 pitches and struck out 10 in the nightcap.

The previously deep SRU pitching staff has seven hurlers battling injuries right now, including ace right-hander Rocky D'Angelo.

"That's how quickly pitching can go," Messer said, shaking his head.

Clarion didn't exactly tear the cover off the ball. The Golden Eagles had 15 singles and two doubles among their 17 hits Saturday.

"We're not as talented as the upper echelon teams in this league, but we have a bunch of kids who just battle and believe they can win," Clarion coach Scott Feldman said.

"We had a lot of confidence coming in here. But winning (both games) didn't hurt."

Messer said Clarion's sweep of his team will keep the Golden Eagles in the playoff hunt the rest of the way.

"We didn't do ourselves or our league any favors this weekend," Messer said. "That team showed it can play with us and they're not gonna go away."

First Game

Clarion 011 101 0 - 4 10 3

SRU 110 001 0 - 3 8 1

WP:

Brad Adamski (5

IP) 3 strikeouts, 1 walk.

LP:

Nick Armstrong (7 IP) 4 strikeouts, 2 walks

Clarion: