Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

SLIPPERY ROCK, PA – The Crimson Hawks bats couldn't find their rhythm on Sunday as they dropped both ends of a doubleheader to Slippery Rock in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West baseball action.

Slippery Rock was victorious 3-0 in game one before edging out a 4-3 game two win.

IUP fell to 21-16 overall on the season and 7-9 in a tightly contested PSAC West race. The Rock improved to 27-15 overall and now hold a two-game lead over the Crimson Hawks with a 9-7 divisional record.

The Crimson Hawks managed just three hits in the opener while starter Kyle Zaorski (Reading/Muhlenberg) kept The Rock off the scoreboard until the fourth inning. Slippery Rock capitalized on a Zaorski error with two outs to take a 1-0 lead.

Giving up just four hits through five innings, Zaorski gave up three straight hits and two runs to start the sixth as Slippery Rock took a 3-0 advantage.IUP tried to mount a late-inning comeback in the seventh, putting a pair of runners on but an infield pop out with two outs ended the threat and the game.

Zaorski took the loss, falling to 2-4 on the year after giving up 10 hits and two earned runs.

The Rock again took the lead in the nightcap, putting two runs on the board in the second inning. The Crimson Hawks attacked in the fifth inning with three runs on four hits, including a leadoff double by John Beatty (New Castle/Mohawk), to go on top 3-2. Dylan Tice (Perkasie/Pennridge), Troy Foster (Shamong, NJ/Seneca) and David McNeill (Pittsburgh/Our Lady of Sacred Heart) all had RBI singles in the inning.

It wasn't long before Slippery Rock went back on top, capitalizing on two errors and two hits to score a pair of runs and take a 4-3 lead.

IUP couldn't mount another comeback attempt in the final two innings, collecting just one hit in the one-run loss.

Matt Szukics (Hainesport, NJ/Rancocas Valley) took the loss to drop to 2-2 after entering in the third inning in relief.

IUP's Monday home doubleheader with Bloomsburg has been cancelled but will keep its Tuesday road twinbill against the Huskies on the road. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.