SLIPPERY ROCK — Looking to start a new year? Bury the old one.

Slippery Rock University's baseball team has gone to work on that in a big way.

SRU swept a home-opening double-header from Clarion Saturday at Critchfield Park — winning 6-5 and 5-4 — to extend its winning streak to eight games and its record to 12-5, 4-0 in the PSAC.

The Rock won 13 games all of last season.

“This is the type of game we lost last year,” SRU coach Jeff Messer said. “We didn't do well in the one-run games.

“After that throwing error late in the game ... If it's last year, we would have crumbled.”

Messer was referring to the top of the sixth inning of Game 1 Saturday. SRU took a 6-1 lead into that inning before a pair of bases-loaded infield hits pulled Clarion (3-10) within 6-3. With the No. 9 hitter at the plate and two outs, Rock catcher Tyler Walters tried picking John Finke off third base.

Walters' throw bounced in front of third baseman Matt Mandes and caromed away, allowing two more runs to score.

The Golden Eagles got no closer, however, as Josh Coleman notched his third save of the season in the seventh inning. He allowed a harmless two-out walk before striking out No. 4 hitter Finke to end the game.

“We've got multiple guys in that bullpen who can be effective late in games,” Messer said.

Butler graduate Wyatt Daugherty is one of them.

The sophomore right-hander worked the final two innings of Game 2, striking out two and allowing just one hit, to get the win. SRU put together a three-run rally in the bottom of the sixth to pull out the 5-4 triumph.

Kyle Wise grounded out to score Seneca Valley graduate Carson Kessler from third to pull The Rock within 4-3. Luca Fuscardo followed with a two-out pinch-hit RBI single to knot the game and James Divosevic delivered a run-scoring double for what proved to be the game-winning blow.

Divosevic had six hits and four RBI on the day, including a 4-for-4 performance at the plate in Game 1.

Daugherty has allowed no runs in his last 11.1 innings pitched.

“I love pitching out of the bullpen late, even more than starting,” he said. “There is no margin for error. It's challenging.”

The Rock broke out the long ball in winning the first game. Christian Porterfield drilled a pair of homers — including a two-run blast in the first inning — and Walters led off the third with a solo shot as SRU built a big lead on Knoch graduate and Clarion freshman right-hander Jeremy Frazier.

“We only hit three homers all season before this game,” Messer said. “We have guys capable of hitting the ball out. It just hasn't been happening.”

Porterfield's homers were his first of the season. He is hitting .379 on the campaign with 15 RBI. Walters and Porterfield rotate between catcher and designated hitter.

“Both pitches I hit out were fastballs,” Porterfield said. “I was looking for those pitches.

“I think we're going to have a good year, make a run at winning the conference. We're a lot more relaxed as a team. We're having fun.”

Frazier threw 64 of his 93 pitches for strikes, but gave up nine hits and six runs before departing with one out in the fifth. He struck out five and did not walk a batter.

Butler graduate Garrett Goslaw, a freshman DH at Clarion, had three hits in the twinbill, including a two-run single in the nightcap.

SRU returns to action Friday, hosting Pitt-Johnstown in a 1 p.m. twinbill at Critchfield Park.