FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Slippery Rock Rallies with two runs in the bottom of the 9th to top Mansfield 5-4

Box Score

SLIPPERY ROCK – Jamison Walck delivered a two-out single to drive in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning as Slippery Rock rallied to beat Mansfield 5-4 in a PSAC crossover contest Sunday afternoon at Jack Critchfield Stadium.

Mansfield's Andy Young and Slippery Rock's Kyle Schneider were locked into a scoreless pitching dual until the Rock pushed across a run in the bottom of the sixth on a two-out single by Walck. Despite having just one hit in the seventh, Slippery Rock would take advantage of two hit batters and a walk to add two more runs , taking a 3-0 lead after seven innings of play.

Mansfield rallied in the top of the eighth with pinch-hitter Ernie Ruch leading off the inning with a double. Ruch moved to third on a single by Jeremy Mapstone and scored on a wild pitch. Dylan Woodworth singled to move Mapstone to third and freshman Anthony Renz delivered a single to plate Mapstone closing the gap to 3-2.

In the top of the ninth, Jon Taddeo drew a one-out walk and moved to second when Jeremy Miller was hit by a pitch. Mansfield's next batter struck out for the Mountaineers second out of the inning and Slippery Rock brought in Joby Lapkowicz to replace Anthony Nasco who had relieved starter Kyle Schneider at the start of the eighth inning. Mapstone then singled to right field to drive in Taddeo and tying the game at 3-3.  Mansfield loaded the bases when Woodworth was hit by a pitch and Miller scored on a wild pitch to give Mansfield a 4-3 lead.

Mapstone, who had relieved Louis Sick in the seventh inning, took the mound in the bottom of the ninth and got the first SRU batter to line out to shortstop.  John Shaffer then doubled down the left field line and the next batter walked to give Slippery Rock runners on first and second with one out. Mapstone got the next batter to fly out to left for the second out and had a two strike count on Bechtel.

Mapstone's next pitch just missed the outside corner of the plate in what would have been the final out of the game. Bechtol then poked the next pitch into right field to score the tying run before Walck singled to left to end the game.

Andy Young, who went 1.1 innings and earned a save in a win at California a day earlier, started for the Mountaineers and held Slippery Rock scoreless while limiting the Rock to just four hits over the first five innings. Mapstone took the loss after going the last 2.1 innings of the game.

Mansfield, which out hit Slippery Rock 9-8 in the game, was led offensively by Jon Moser who went 3-4 in the game. Mapstone was 2-4 with an RBI. It marked the second straight game Mansfield had outhit its opponent in a loss.

Lapkowicz, who faced just three batters, all in the top of the ninth, picked up the win for Slippery Rock. Starter Kyle Schneider stuck out nine and allowed four hits in going the first seven innings on the mound.

Mansfield returns to PSAC East play on Friday when the Mountaineers travel to Millersville.