SLIPPERY ROCK — The middle of the game belonged to Slippery Rock. It was the beginning and the end that did in the Rockets.

They rebounded from a 5-0 deficit to take the lead on Franklin, only to have it slip away in a 9-7 high school baseball loss Friday night at Critchfield Park.

Slippery Rock's defeat, coupled with Meadville's 4-2 win over Grove City, puts the Rockets' District 10 playoff hopes in serious jeopardy.

“This game was big,” said Rockets' coach Nate McCollough. “We came out flat today and you can't do that.”

Even with the five runs given up by Slippery Rock starting pitcher Joe Barnhart in the first inning, the Rockets fought their way to a 7-6 lead after five frames.

Barnhart was relieved by Mitch Robinson at the start of the sixth inning and the junior ran into trouble.

He hit the first two batters he faced — Clayton Maxon and Nolan Hall — with a pitch, though Hall appeared to attempt to bunt the ball before it made contact with him.

The Knights would go on to score three runs in the inning, one on a bunt single, one on an error and another on a wild pitch.

The runs proved to be the last scored by either team.

“I'm not saying it cost us the game, but it was the wrong call,” McCollough said of the second hit-batsman. “In the end, though, we had chances to win, but didn't make the plays.”

Those late missed opportunities came on offense, as the Rockets stranded runners at second and third in the bottom of the sixth and at first and second in the seventh.

Getting out of both jams was Franklin reliever Nate Cardy, who pitched the final three innings for the win.

Cardy struck out four and walked two. The only run that scored with him on the mound was inherited from Franklin starter Nick Emerson in the bottom of the fifth.

“Slippery Rock was swinging the bats really well tonight,” said Knights' coach Gary Shingledecker. “He (Cardy) hadn't thrown over 50 pitches in a game all year for us, but he came up big tonight.”

Slippery Rock answered Franklin's five runs in the first with one of its own in the bottom of the inning as Andrew Gieraltowski's triple allowed Sam Furrh to score.

The Rockets' big inning was the bottom of the third as the team plated five runs off of Emerson.

Furrh, Ryan Northcott and Robinson began the inning with three straight singles.

Run-scoring hits in the frame went to Robinson and Barnhart. Connor Hogue added a sacrifice fly and the Rockets scored a run on an error and one on a wild pitch.

“It's nice when you put up a five spot in the first inning,” said Shingledecker, “but I think we relaxed a bit after that lead.”

After his struggles in the first inning, Barnhart pitched well, allowing just one run over the last four innings of his outing. He finished with five strikeouts and a walk.

“He settled in and battled and that's what we needed,” said McCollough. “He's only a sophomore and is going to be really good.”

Slippery Rock honored seniors Sean White, Mike Stutz, Andrew Gieraltowski, Connor Hogue and Sam Furrh before the game.

Franklin 500 013 0 — 9 11 1Slippery Rock 105 010 0 — 7 14 2W: Nate Cardy 3 IP (4K, 2BB).

L: Mitch Robinson 2 IP (0K, 0BB).

Franklin (5-12, 3-6): Alex Hoover 1B R RBI, Nick Emerson 1B, Trent Smith 1B, Nate Cardy 2-1B R, Ryan Madden 1B 2B R 3RBI, Clayton Maxon 2-1B 2R 2RBI, Nolan Hall 2B RBI, Brendon Evans 1B R, Pat Grecco R, Joe Desko 2R

Slippery Rock (6-11, 4-5): Sam Furrh 3-1B 2R SB, Ryan Northcott 2-1B R, Mitch Robinson 1B R RBI, Andrew Gieraltowski 1B 3B 2R RBI SB, Cody Stephenson 1B R SB, Connor Hogue 2RBI, Joe Barnhart 3-1B RBI, Mike Stutz 1B, Levi Leonberg 1B, Travis Lauster SB

Monday: Slippery Rock at Girard