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April 26,
2003
Contact: Bob
McComas (724) 738-2777 e-mail: robert.mccomas@sru.edu
Shane
Meling (724) 738-4830 e-mail: shanemeling@yahoo.com
ROCK HARDBALLERS ROLL TO
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
INDIANA, Pa. – Slippery Rock University’s
nationally ranked baseball team clinched the Pennsylvania State
Athletic Conference-Western Division championship Saturday
afternoon when it swept Indiana, Pa. by 9-3 and 10-3 scores at Owen
Dougherty Field in Indiana.
The
Rock, now 37-8 overall and 16-2 in PSAC-West play, clinched the
title in the first game when Indiana, Pa. lost its seventh
PSAC-West game of the season. The Rock’s win streak is
now 10 games and marks the second time the team has had a 10 game
or more winning streak this season.
SRU – which is ranked 10th
in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers national poll and
11th in the Collegiate Baseball magazine poll -- assured
itself of sole possession of its 13th divisional title
in Jeff Messer’s 18 seasons as head coach with the
win.
Sophomore
right-hander Nick Armstrong (Murraysville/Franklin Regional
HS) improved to 4-0 on the season with the win in the first
game. He allowed three hits, three runs, one earned run, and
four walks, while striking out one in five innings.
Right-hander Rocky D’Angelo (Shaler/Shaler HS)
came on for the save, pitching two perfect innings of
relief.
Junior left-hander Steve Norris
(Clearfield/Clearfield HS) improved his record to
7-0, allowing five hits, three runs, two earned runs, and three
walks, while striking out six in five innings in the second
game. Freshman right-hander Adam Ritts (Indiana/Indiana
HS) pitched the final two innings, allowing one hit and
striking out three.
The
Rock hitters were a big key to the victories as well. Senior
centerfielder Joe Neidrick (Osceola
Mills/Phillipsburg-Osceola HS) and senior second baseman
Alan Reichl (Pittsburgh/Montour HS) were both 5-for-8
on the afternoon. Neidrick had a double and three RBI’s
and Reichl had two doubles, a triple and five
RBI’s.
Sophomore
designated hitter Billy Wolfe (Franklin/Franklin HS)
went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI’s in the first
game. Junior right fielder Jason Curry (Slippery
Rock/Slippery Rock HS) had three hits, including a double
and junior catcher Joe Pascarella (New Castle/Shenango
HS) had a double, a triple and four RBI’s in the
second game.
Sophomore
third baseman Chase Rowe (Saxonburg/Knoch HS) knocked
his first homerun of the season in the second game.
The
Rock’s 37-8 start is the best start in school
history.
# ROCK PRIDE #
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