SLIPPERY ROCK — In Game One, it was a reliever. In Game Two, a starter.

In both cases, the Slippery Rock University baseball team's bats fell silent against Indiana (Pa.) pitching.

Crimson Hawks reliever Mitch Perez pitched the final 4X\c innings of Friday's first contest at Jack Critchfield Park, allowing just two baserunners, and was rewarded with a win as IUP captured a 10-9 victory in 10 innings.

IUP freshman Willie Nelson went the distance in the nightcap, giving up one earned run on eight hits, as the Hawks claimed a 6-3 victory.

"We seem to be chasing Slippery Rock every year," said IUP coach Jeff Ditch. "When you talk PSAC baseball, they have to be in the conversation, so any victory against them is a big one."

The Hawks scored the eventual winning run of the first game in the top of the 10th inning when third baseman Vern Powell belted an off-speed pitch from SRU's Zach Jeney into left field, scoring Paul Bingham.

But the win was set up by Perez's masterful relief outing.

IUP reliever Stephen Cooke already had given up a run-scoring double to The Rock's Adam Jury earlier in the sixth inning to cut the Hawks' lead to 9-8.

Perez inherited runners on first and third with one out in the frame and gave up a sacrifice fly to Mitch Monas, which scored Jury to tie the game.

Perez set the Rock down in order in the seventh and eighth innings.

Monas led off the ninth with a single and John Murray was sent to the plate to sacrifice him to second base.

But Murray's bunt came directly to Perez, who began a 1-6-3 double play.

"That was huge," admitted SRU coach Jeff Messer. "It was supposed to go up the first base line.

"We can't spot a team 15 hits," he added. "We should win any game when we score nine runs."

Perez, a junior, retired the last four batters of the game in order.

"Mitch actually came to us as an outfielder, but we turned him into a pitcher because of his mentality," said Ditch. "He's a bulldog on the mound. He wants to be in there with the game on the line."

Overshadowed by Perez's outing was the work by Jeney, who relieved SRU starter George Hebert after the latter had given up eight runs on nine hits in five innings.

Jeney struck out five, walked two and surrendered two runs on four hits in five innings.

"Zach was coming off a labrum injury from last season and we brought him back a little too soon when we were down south, so he's just now getting back into it," said Messer. "I thought he pitched very well today."

Jury ended the game with four RBI.

Kyle Stryker led IUP's offense with two doubles, a home run, three RBI and three runs scored.

Game Two IUP 6, SRU 3

For Messer, the second game's turning point was clear.

SRU was leading 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning and had the bases loaded with one out.

But Nelson, a freshman left-hander who relies more on deception and location to retire batters, fanned The Rock's Matt Kosik and Nick Caito to end the threat.

"We couldn't get the big hit," Messer said. "We could've put them away right there. Our second and third outs were strikeouts, and that was big."

Nelson, a Kiski Area High graduate, went above and beyond his duties.

"We always think our starters are going to go about four innings," said Ditch. "After that, it's all about matchups and who's rested. But as we got into the later innings, it just seemed like Willie was the best option.

"This was his best start to date," he added. "He doesn't have great velocity with his fastball, but he's able to set it up with his off-speed stuff."

IUP tied the game at three when Powell scored on Jamie Smith's sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth.

The Hawks (11-16, 6-2) then scored three runs in the last frame, spurred on by Bingham's leadoff triple.

T.J. Nichols followed with what he thought was a sacrifice bunt, but SRU pitcher Joby Lapkowicz darted off the mound, scooped up the ball and flipped to catcher Benny Barnes.

However, the toss wasn't in time to get a sliding Bingham, who scored to put IUP up 4-3.

Bingham had two singles, a double and a triple.

Lapkowicz was relieved by Justin Thomas, who walked consecutive batters with the bases loaded and both runs were charged to the SRU starter.

Lapkowicz took the loss, pitching 6 innings, striking out six and walking five. He allowed six runs on seven hits.

Carter Haponski tallied two singles, a double and a triple for The Rock (13-15, 7-7), which has now lost four straight.

Game 1Indiana (Pa.) 041 031 000 1 — 10 15 2Slippery Rock 004 212 000 0 — 9 9 1W: Mitch Perez 4X\cIP (1 K, 0 BB).

L: Zach Jeney 5 IP (5 K, 2 BB).

Indiana: Jamie Smith RBI, Kofi Osei-Aning 1B 2B R, Paul Bingham 1B 2R, T.J. Nichols 1B R RBI, Kyle Stryker 2-2B HR 3R 3 RBI, Vern Powell 2-1B 2B R 2 RBI, Frank Sirolli 3-1B R RBI, Robbie Zinsmeister 2B R 2 RBI, Cory Sawka 1B

Slippery Rock: Matt Howard 1B 2R, Carter Haponski 1B 2R RBI, Derek DiRuscia 2R, Adam Jury 1B 2B R 4 RBI, Billy Messer 2B RBI, John Murray 1B, Jacob Oswalt 1B R RBI, Mitch Monas 1B 2B R RBI

Game 2Indiana (Pa.) 101 001 3 — 6 7 3Slippery Rock 200 010 0 — 3 8 1W: Willie Nelson 7IP (2 K, 3 BB).

L: Joby Lapkowicz 6 IP (6 K, 5 BB).

Indiana (11-16, 6-2): Jamie Smith 2 RBI Kofi Osei-Aning R, Paul Bingham 2-1B 2B 3B 2R, T.J. Nichols R 2 RBI, Kyle Stryker 1B R RBI, Vern Powell 1B R, Frank Sirolli 1B, Brett Quiggle RBI

Slippery Rock (13-15, 7-7): Carter Haponski 2-1B 2B 3B 2R, Derek DiRuscia R, Adam Jury 2-1B RBI, Billy Messer RBI, Jamison Walck 1B RBI, Nick Caito 2B

Saturday: Slippery Rock at Indiana (DH); Game One begins at 1 p.m.