SLIPPERY ROCK - Never mind saving the best for last. Grove City's high school baseball team saves the best for first.

Beau Fisher, Bill Herman and Jesse Alfreno - the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 hitters in the Eagles' batting order - combined for eight hits in 10 at-bats, seven RBI and five runs scored in a 9-3 win over Slippery Rock Wednesday night at Critchfield Park.

The victory improved Grove City's MCAC record to 10-1 and sets up a showdown at unbeaten Hickory Monday.

"Our first five hitters are all batting right around .400," Grove City coach Pat Forese said. "The top of our order gets things going for us."

It wasted little time doing so Wednesday. Fisher singled sharply to left to begin Grove City's first inning and Herman followed with a home run - his third of the year - to left-center field.

Herman is batting .500 this year with 10 doubles. He fell a double short of hitting for the cycle Wednesday.

"I was thinking about it," Herman said. "I was hoping I'd get another at bat."

After homering in the first inning, Herman walked in the second, beat out an infield single in the third and hit a run-scoring triple to right in the fifth.

The triple marked his final plate appearance of the night.

"It's easy batting near the top of this lineup because nobody can pitch around any of us," Herman said. "We have solid hitters from top to bottom."

Grove City is batting about .350 as a team.

Alfreno improved to 4-0 by pitching five innings and striking out nine. All three hits he allowed were during a three-run Slippery Rock fourth inning.

The Rockets trailed 5-0 after three and Alfreno had faced the minimum nine batters in the first three innings. Ross Ketzel began the Slippery Rock fourth by beating out a checked-swing slow roller to first.

Billy Messer walked and with two outs, and Ryan Hays singled to left when the outfielder lost the ball in the twilight. Josh Cress followed with a roller past third that singled home two more runs.

"We put together an inning there and our kids fought back," Slippery Rock coach Cory Hake said. "But Grove City has a very good baseball team."

Alfreno recovered from the rough inning to strike out the side in the fifth. Jim Jaskowak pitched the final two innings for the Eagles.

"Jesse responded well," Forese said. "Then Jim continued his excellent work out of the bullpen for us. He has two wins and a save that way."

While the loss dropped Slippery Rock to 5-7 in league play, the Rockets still have a shot at the playoffs. The top three teams in the MCAC get automatic berths.

"A .500 record in the league will probably get that spot," Hake said. "Wilmington, Sharon and Reynolds are all around that mark and we have to play them all one more time.

"I don't know if we control our own destiny or not, but these kids believe they can get this done," he added.

The Rockets committed four errors Wednesday.

"We made some mistakes, but they were mistakes made trying to make a play," Hake said. "I can live with that."

Slippery Rock 000 300 0 - 3 4 4

Grove City 221 040 x - 9 11 1

WP:

Jesse Alfreno (5 IP) 9 strikeouts, 2 walks.

LP:

Bill Dillon (2 IP) 0 strikeouts, 2 walks

Slippery Rock (5-8, 5-7):

Ross Ketzel 1B, Ryan Hays 1B RBI, Josh Cress 1B 2-RBI, Drew Bowland 1B

Grove City (11-2, 10-1):

Beau Fisher 2-1B 2-RBI 3-R, Bill Herman HR 1B 3B 3-RBI 2-R, Jesse Alfreno 3-1B 2-RBI, Mike Youngo 1B, Derek Maybee 1B, Andy Geibel 2B 2-R, Dan Sonntag RBI

Thursday:

West Middlesex @ Grove City

Friday:

Wilmington @ Slippery Rock