Lost in the mayhem of a sloppy, slow baseball game was a key development for Slippery Rock High.

The Rockets have found another quality pitcher.

After throwing just five innings a season ago, left-hander Jake Arienzo tossed six strong innings for Slippery Rock in an 11-2 win over Cambridge Springs at Kelly Automotive Park Monday night.

“He's the X-factor,” said Slippery Rock coach Nathan McCollough. “He came out and battled. His stuff was not the best — we had to call a lot of fastballs. But us getting six innings from him in his first start since I don't know when, it was great. I'll take it.

“Once Jake got into a groove,” McCollough added, “we took off from there.”

Arienzo's groove came in the fourth inning after he had given up two early runs, one on a wild-pitch strikeout on what would have been the third out in the second inning.

After the early rust, Arienzo was nearly flawless.

The same could not be said of the five pitchers used by Cambridge Springs, who combined to walk 13 batters, hit three others, uncork 10 wild pitches, and allow seven stolen bases.

The final score could have been much more lopsided; Slippery Rock had just seven hits and left 11 runners on base.

“It was bad baseball on both sides,” McCollough said. “It was a hard game to get into. It got cold. At the plate, our approaches were way off. A win's a win, but it was sloppy both ways.”

Ryan Lauser went 2-for-3 with a single, double, two RBI, two walks and three stolen bases for the Rockets (2-0).

Jackson Kerchis added a double and drove in three runs and Tim Butler also had a pair of hits for Slippery Rock.

“We have some things to work on,” McCollough said. “But it's early.”

Cam. Springs 011 000 0 — 2 4 2

Slippery Rock 011 261 x — 11 7 1

W: Jake Arienzo 6IP (6K, 4BB). L: Gabe Orlop 1IP (2K, 2BB).

Cambridge Springs (0-1): Colton Cox 2-1B, Deven Simpson 2-1B

Slippery Rock (2-0): Ryan Lauster 1B 2B 2-RBI 3-SB, Jackson Kerchis 2B 3-RBI, Tim Butler 2-1B RBI

Today: Girard at Slippery Rock