SLIPPERY ROCK — In the first round of the PIAA Class 4A baseball playoffs Monday evening, Slippery Rock's lineup encountered a big obstacle — literally and figuratively.

Hopewell's 6-foot-4 junior left-hander Joey Rock held the District 10 champions to just three hits in posting a 6-1 victory at Slippery Rock University's Critchfield Park.

“His fastball was in the upper-80s and he had us guessing all night,” said Rocket coach Fred Pryor. “We had chances early in the game, but couldn't get the big hit. That's baseball.”

Though Rock entered the game with just 19 walks in 74 1/3 innings pitched this season, Slippery Rock's batters were able to draw five free passes off of him.

Two of those came in the bottom of the first inning when Dylan Dingel was walked to begin the frame and Danny Williams jogged to first base with one out. Ricky Mineo followed with an RBI-single that gave Slippery Rock (20-3) an early lead. It was a promising start against what the Rockets knew would be a formidable challenge.

But they didn't know that the early run would be all Rock would allow. He surrendered just five more baserunners the rest of his outing, which lasted 6 2/3 innings.

Rock tied his season-high with 11 strikeouts. He was coming off a no-hit victory over Deer Lakes last Tuesday in the WPIAL consolation game, which extended Hopewell's season with a state playoff berth. He is now 8-3 on the year.

“He's been very steady for us this season,” said Viking coach Mike Shuleski. “The atmosphere here was something to behold. It was a home game for Slippery Rock and it's easy to get caught up in the emotion. Naturally, there were some nerves early on, but Joey settled down after that, primarily using his fastball and curveball.”

For the first three innings, Slippery Rock senior pitcher Gunner Becker proved just as frustrating for Hopewell's lineup. He allowed a pair of baserunners during that span, but a double-play got him out of the first inning unscathed and a strikeout of Tyler Sabo left a runner stranded in scoring position in the third.

A controversial call helped the Vikings get on the board in the fourth. With runners at first and third and no outs, Josh Miklos pushed a bunt up the first-base line. Becker fielded the ball and threw home to catcher Zach Van Dyke and Hopewell's Jake McGovern was caught in a rundown between third and home plate.

Van Dyke chased McGovern back up the line and threw to third baseman Williams in plenty of time to record the first out of the inning, but the umpire ruled that McGovern slid underneath the tag and the bases were loaded.

It was one of several breaks that broke Hopewell's way during the game.

“We didn't get any close calls tonight,” said Pryor.

The sequence proved costly for the Rockets. After one out, Alex Kunzmann hit a sacrifice fly that plated McGovern with the tying run. Dan Riffle followed with a run-scoring single.

Hopewell (15-10) scored four runs with two outs in the fifth. A Slippery Rock fielding error and a walk were followed by run-scoring base hits from Miklos and Kunzmann and a two-run double off the bat of Tyler Beck.

“We've struggled to score runs all year,” said Shuleski, “but hitting is contagious and we were taking what he (Becker) was giving us.”

The 6-1 lead was more than enough for Rock, who came within one out of pitching a complete game. After reaching 100 pitches, he was lifted with two outs in the seventh. Kunzmann took the mound and recorded the final out.

Becker pitched 5 1/3 innings, striking out two and walking three. Mineo worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief.

Pryor reflected on his team's 20-win season following the game.

“For my first season as head coach, I'll take it,” he said. “Our philosophy was there wasn't going to be a team that outworked us. I guarantee you there wasn't.”

Hopewell 000 240 0 — 6 9 1

Slippery Rock 100 000 0 — 1 3 2

W: Joey Rock 6.2 IP (11K, 5BB). L: Gunner Becker 5.1 IP (2K, 3BB).

Hopewell (15-10): Tyler Sabo 1B R, Jake McGovern 1B R, Josh Miklos 1B R RBI, Tyler Beck 2B R 2RBI, Alex Kunzmann 1B 2RBI, Dan Riffle 2-1B RBI, Joey Rock 1B, Cody Yanyecic 1B, Sean Curry 2R

Slippery Rock (20-3): Dylan Dingel R, Gunner Becker 1B, Ricky Mineo 1B RBI, Kyle Benson 1B