INSTITUTE, W.Va. – West Virginia State Baseball slipped Friday, falling in both contests of a doubleheader with PSAC stalwart Slippery Rock at Cal Bailey Field.
The Yellow Jackets dropped a heartbreaker in the first game, falling 1-0 after a late run from The Rock. In the finale, a homerun proved the difference as State fell 6-2 in a nine-inning affair.
WVSU drops to 5-4 on the season while Slippery Rock improves to 6-0.
Senior Michael Stone launched his first long ball of the year, launching a two-run shot in Game 2 as part of a two-hit performance. Sophomore Ryan Kay and graduate student Matthew Kline each totaled two hits on the day.
GAME 1: SLIPPERY ROCK 1, WVSU 0 (7 INNINGS)
Foster Conis got the start in the first game of the afternoon and was lights out through five innings. He gave up just two hits and struck out four while holding the Rock scoreless.
Slippery Rock broke the stalemate in the sixth inning when a two-out double scored a runner that reached base on a fielding error, 1-0. That one run ended up deciding the game.
The Rock's Devin Dunn tossed a complete-game shutout to earn the win. He tallied eight strikeouts while allowing four hits.
The closest the Yellow Jackets came to scoring was in the bottom of the third when Andrew Stone advanced to third base with two outs.
Andrew Stone and Dylan Ball each hit a double in the contest. Conis and sophomore Colin Bryant combined for eight strikeouts in the game.
GAME 2: SLIPPERY ROCK 6, WVSU 2 (9 INNINGS)
Slippery Rock was the first team to threaten in the second game. The Rock loaded the bases with one out in the top of the second, but a 6-4-3 double play turned by West Virginia State's middle infielders kept the goose egg on the scoreboard.
Slippery Rock did more than just threaten in the third inning and scored on a passed ball, 1-0. The Rock's Joe Ehland singled, stole second, and advanced to third on a wild pitch before crossing home plate.
Nick Loftis replaced Quincy Thornton for WVSU in the top of the fourth and gave up a three-run homerun to the first batter he faced, 4-0. That four-run lead was then cut in half in the bottom of the fifth. Michael Stone crushed a homer to left center after Brett Christian beat out a throw from the third baseman with two outs, 4-2.
The Rock tacked on two more runs with a pair of RBI-singles in the eighth inning, 6-2. That ended up being the final score since the Yellow Jackets were unable to rally in the bottom of the eighth or the ninth.
UP NEXT
State looks to salvage the series Sunday, facing Slippery Rock with a noon first pitch. Live stats and video stream will be available.
