GROVE CITY - In the first two innings, Grove City High's Randy Risch had no idea where his pitches were headed.

Wide, high, in the dirt, several missed their mark.

But Risch settled down, working out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning and stranding two more Slippery Rock runners in the second on the way to a 5-0 win Thursday.

"He loaded them in the first there, and if they get a bleeder or an error or anything like that, it's a completely different ballgame," said Grove City coach Pat Forese. "He did a great job. He really threw pretty well."

Risch scattered three hits, struck out eight and walked four in six innings. Jeff Revesz worked a hitless seventh to complete the three-hit shutout.

Risch's early command problems were caused by mechanical breakdowns.

"That's all it is, really," Forese said. "He rushes to the plate, leaves his arm behind and that's why he misses high a lot."

Once the right-hander ironed out his kinks, it was too late for Slippery Rock.

That had Rockets first year coach Evan Agona lamenting the early missed opportunities, as Slippery Rock stranded nine runners.

"That was the difference in the ballgame," Agona said. "We didn't capitalize on opportunities and made too many mistakes. That's kind of been the story of our season."

On an afternoon with precious few hits, the biggest ones came off the bats of Garrett Herald and Derrick Brown and the shoulder of Allen Saylor. The Grove City trio accounted for all five runs.

Herald hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning the only earned run Slippery Rock surrendered and Derrick Brown singled home two runs in the sixth inning to break open a 2-0 game.

Saylor gave Grove City the only run it needed when Josh Dailey plunked him with a pitch in the bottom of the second inning with the bases loaded.

He was hit by a pitch again in the sixth and eventually scored. Saylor has several multi-hit-by-pitch games this season.

He's the Don Baylor of the Eagles.

Risch has become team's Tim Lincecum.

Risch improved to 5-0 and has been a true ace for a team that struggled to find one last season.

Risch's performance overshadowed an equally impressive outing by Dailey, who gave up only three hits in five innings while striking out eight and walking four. The only mistake he made was the home run to Herald.

"Josh threw well. A couple of routine plays hurt him," Agona said. "Obviously, the kid hit the ball over the fence. But it was a solo shot and it was only one run."

Slippery Rock 000 000 0 0 3 3Grove City 010 013 x 5 4 0W: Randy Risch (6 IP) 8 K, 4 BB.

L: Josh Dailey (5 IP) 8 K, 4 BB.

Slippery Rock (3-6, 1-2): Matt Corner 1B; Josh Weitzel 1B; Nate Shearer 1B

Grove City (8-2, 4-0): Derrick Brown 1B, 2-RBI; Garrett Herald HR, 1B, RBI; Jeff Revesz 1B; Allen Saylor 2-HBP, RBI

Saturday: Grove City at Franklin

Monday: Slippery Rock at Erie McDowell