Rock's home run king
JOHNSTOWN — Slippery Rock University has a new home run king.
Tyler Walters drilled a three-run homer in the fifth inning of the first game Friday as SRU (15-7, 8-2) swept a doubleheader from Pitt-Johnstown, 9-7 and 7-4. The blast was Walters' fifth of the season.
It was also his 41st career home run at SRU, snapping the school record previously held by Nate Thimons.
Thimons set the record while SRU played its home games at Wally Rose Park nearly 20 years ago.
Walters is now four home runs away from tying Shippensburg's Jake Kennedy for the most home runs in PSAC history.
Walters went 3-for-3 in the first game with three runs scored and three RBI.
The Rock's Christian Porterfield went 4-for-8 in the twinbill, collecting three runs scored, four RBI, two doubles and a home run. He leads The Rock with six homers, 27 RBI and a .390 batting average this season.
Abraham Mow was 4-for-6 with four runs scored, three RBI, a home run and pair of walks. He has four homers on the season.
Butler graduate Wyatt Daugherty had saves in both games and leads the PSAC with five saves this season.
Alex Pantuso was the winning pitcher in Game One, striking out seven in four innings. Grove City High graduate Matt Gordon improved to 4-0 on the year by winning Game Two.
Gordon struck out six in 6.1 innings pitched and did not walk a batter. He has permitted only one walk all season.
Gordon was nicked for a pair of runs in the fourth after tossing three scoreless innings. But SRU put the nightcap away with a four-run seventh frame.
Pitt-Johnstown slipped to 6-16 overall, 3-6 in PSAC West play with the doubleheader loss.
The Rock offense has scored at least eight runs in 10 games this season.
SRU will carry a seven-game winning streak into Sunday's doubleheader against UPJ at Point Stadium in Johnstown.
