SLIPPERY ROCK — Seemingly running a gauntlet in efforts to qualify for the PSAC Tournament, the Slippery Rock University baseball team was ultimately denied.

Not for anything it did on the field.

But because it couldn't get on the field.

Needing to sweep a doubleheader from Clarion Sunday at Critchfield Park to secure the No. 3 seed out of the PSAC West, the games fell victim to heavy rainfall.

Since the PSAC established a staunch deadline of Sunday to complete all conference games, The Rock (23-14, 14-12) was denied an opportunity to make the games up.

Therefore, Seton Hill, Mercyhurst, California and Gannon will represent the PSAC West in the single-elimination conference tournament, which begins Wednesday.

“We asked to be permitted to play at 10 a.m. Monday,” SRU coach Jeff Messer said. “I felt the playoff situation should have been sorted out on the field. But we were told no.

“The (PSAC) commissioner told us we could take all night (Sunday) to get that doubleheader in. We were going to try to get the games in at 8 p.m. The umpires and Clarion were willing to wait it out.”

SRU had a 3-1 lead in the third inning of Game 1 Sunday afternoon when the umpires delayed the game because of the rainfall.

PSAC Commissioner Steve Murray, in West Chester for the PSAC lacrosse championships, canceled the games early Sunday evening.

“Someone had to make a call there,” Murray said. “This was an unfortunate situation. Clarion was in an awkward position and so were the umpires. I didn't like their chances of being able to play Sunday night and we couldn't keep Clarion there all that time.

“I feel sick about this. Jeff Messer is a true professional about everrything, including the way he's taking this. I have so much respect for Slippery Rock's program. No matter what I decided, someone was going to be mad at me.”

Had SRU swept Clarion in a Monday doubleheadder, Gannon would have been denied a tourney berth.

“For me to make an exception to that Sunday deadline would have been unfair to Gannon,” Murray said. “They adhered to that Sunday deadline.

“What happened this season was not Slippery Rock's fault. That's why I feel so badly about this. But that Sunday deadline was established weeks ago.”

The Rock sat idle for 17 days during the season while would-be opponents Gannon, Clarion and Seton Hill dealt with COVID-19 issues. SRU played 19 games over 17 days to close the season, including sweeping Indiana in doubleheaders Friday and Saturday, prior to trying to play Clarion Sunday.

“My players are hurting right now,” Messer said. “I know the athletic directors and commissioner established that deadline a while back, but these are extenuating circumstances.

“I felt like we should have been given a chance to play it out. We would have controlled our own destiny had we been able to play.”

SRU is among the teams under consideration for a berth in the Atlantic regional tourney. But it faces long odds there.

Normally a seven-team tournament, Division II reduced regional tournaments by 25% this season. That means there are five total berths, two of them going to conference tournament champions.

“I'm hoping we get in, but it's a real long shot,” Messer admitted.

“The PSAC went strictly by the book on this one. I understand that, but this is still a tough one to swallow. We have been playing so well. You hate to see it end this way.”