SLIPPERY ROCK — The Slippery Rock Sliders had no margin for error heading into the final week of the Prospect League season.

A loss to Lorain on Sunday put the Sliders on life support.

A 6-3 defeat at the hands of West Virginia at Jack Critchfield Park Tuesday night may have been the club’s death blow.

“That’s pretty much it now,” said Slippery Rock manager Shawn Pynn. “It would take an absolute miracle. It has happened, but losing to Lorain was the kick that knocked the can over.”

The Sliders (10-14) are now five games back of Richmond with six games left to play. Slippery Rock also is looking up at three other teams in the East Division standings.

Now, Pynn has an eye on his players and how they will react in the final week.

“It’s matter now of seeing what this team is made of,” Pynn said. “How much are they going to come out and play for each other when nothing is on the line. I’m hoping it works out. Sometimes, you get guys who shut down. Do I think that will happen to our team? I don’t think so.”

Slippery Rock looked on the way to a win over West Virginia behind a strong start by Max Deering.

The left-hander had a no-hitter through three innings and had a 3-2 lead heading into the top of the eighth inning when the wheels came off.

The big blow was a two-run single by Miners’ cleanup hitter Joe Williams that gave West Virginia a 5-3 lead.

It was another comeback win for the Miners (13-8), who are making a surge in the second half after winning the first-half division crown.

“We’ve been doing that a lot lately,” said West Virginia manager Tim Epling. “Their pitcher threw a nice game. He was keeping us off balance and keeping our left-handed hitters in check. With him, you just have to be patient.”

Pynn said he had no reservations about leaving Gearing in the game.

Gearing threw just 96 pitches, even with a rocky eighth inning.

“He wasn’t missing the zone. His velocity was good. His movement was good,” Pynn said. “His stuff was definitely still there. He even said he felt great. It was just a matter of them putting together a good inning.”

West Virginia tacked on another run in the top of the ninth against relief pitcher Zach Walsh.

Kolin Stanley picked up the win in relief of Ismael Castro.

Russ Luxton pitched the final 1 1-3 innings for the save.

After a slow start to the second half, the Miners have hit their stride despite having little to play for with a playoff spot already wrapped up.

“We had a lapse at the beginning (of the second half),” Epling said. “I think you have to look at the players as individuals and kind of talk to them and tell them, ‘Look. You’re here and our goal is to go out and play the best we can every game.’ I think we have done that.”

West Virginia 000 110 031 — 6 9 1

Slippery Rock 000 210 000 — 3 6 1

W: Kolin Stanley 2.2IP (1K, 2BB). L: Max Deering 8IP (3K, 1BB).

West Virginia (13-8): Luke Meeteer 1B RBI, Bradley Strong 1B, Clayton Prestridge 2-1B RBI, Joe Williams 2-1B 2-RBI, Alex De La Rosa 1B RBI, Jon Gray 2B RBI, Mark Benak 1B RBI

Slippery Rock (10-14): Zach Looney 2B, Dan Hurlimann 2B RBI, Radley Haddad 1B RBI, Ryan Abernathy 1B, Steve Sulcoski 1B 2B

Today: West Virginia at Slippery Rock