Senior Moment: McCune shines on mound in relief as Slippery Rock edges Conneaut, 5-4
SLIPPERY ROCK — Colin McCune had more than a senior moment on Senior Day.
He came up with a senior-caliber performance — one that was greatly needed in Slippery Rock's 5-4 home baseball win over Conneaut Monday afternoon.
McCune — honored along with fellow seniors Nick Ayres, Alex Duffalo and Cameron Cygan during pre-game ceremonies — pitched three innings of scoreless relief for the Rockets. He also delivered a sacrifice fly in the second and a run-scoring single during a four-run third.
“We can always count on Colin to come in and calm things down,” Slippery Rock coach Doug Popovec said. “This is what he does all the time.
“But we really needed this win today — and he really came through.”
The Rockets (10-5) began the day one game behind Hickory in their region standings. Slippery Rock closes the regular season by hosting Greenville Wednesday.
“A must win,” Popovec said of Wednesday's game. “But it wouldn't mean much if we didn't win today.”
The Rockets broke open a 1-1 game by scoring four times in that third inning. Ryan Montgomery produced a run-scoring double, Shane Thompson a two-run single and McCune an RBI single to left.
But Conneaut wouldn't go away.
The Eagles scored twice in the fourth, aided by a pair of Slippery Rock errors, and got to Rocket starting pitcher Nick Kingerski with a pair of singles to begin the fifth.
With runners on the corners, Popovec inserted McCune on the mound.
“Nick threw well, but he got a little tired,” McCune said. “I gave up a sacrifice fly (cutting SR's lead to 5-4), but that's gonna happen sometimes. I knew I couldn't give up anymore.”After the sacrifice fly, McCune allowed only an infield single in the fifth and a two-out walk in the seventh the rest of the way.“I've had a few saves this year, but this was probably the biggest,” he said.Conneaut (5-12) was able to stay in the game with clutch pitching and defense. An infield single by John Sabo, walk to Montgomery and bunt single by Sal Mineo loaded the bases with one out for the Rockets in the fourth.Eagles relief pitcher Jaydon Miachoi escaped damage by inducing a pop out to shallow right and a fly out to center.The Rockets began their sixth with Cygan's pinch-hit single to left and a single by Montgomery — his third hit of the day — put runners at first and second. Both moved up on a wild pitch.A fly out to center, pop out to shortstop and ground out to shortstop ended the threat.The Rockets stranded nine runners in the game, including the bases loaded twice.“We like to use our speed, steal bases and be aggressive to get runners in scoring position,” Popovec said. “We just didn't knock them in today. We were over-swinging way too much.“We held on for the win and that's a positive, but we have to play much, much better.”Conneaut coach Dave Herr was happy with the way his team played.“We've been in a long skid, but these last couple of games have been much better,” Herr said. “Our kids are showing they can battle with anybody. We're young and I loved the way we fought and hung in today.”Junior center fielder Ryan Richardson had a particularly strong game for the Eagles. He had a pair of singles, scored a run, drove one in, threw out runners at second base and the plate. He made a lunging catch on Thompson's sinking blooper to center to end that bases-loaded threat in the fourth.“That's the best individual game I've seen a player have all season,” Herr said. “Ryan was simply outstanding.”Conneaut 001 210 0 — 4 8 0Slippery Rock 014 000 x — 5 11 3W: Nick Kingerski 4IP (0K, 2BB). L: Dawson Thomas 3IP (3K, 2BB)Conneaut (5-12): Ryan Richardson 2-1B RBI, Jaydon Miachoi 1B, Gavin White 1B RBI, Alex Nottingham 1B, Ryan Herr 1B, Andrew McKalip RBI, Dawson Thomas 1B, Twent Roncaglione 1BSlippery Rock (10-5): Ryan Montgomery 2-1B 2B RBI, Sal Mineo 2-1B, Shane Thompson 2-1B 2-RBI 2-R, Colin McCune 1B 2-RBI, Nick Kingerski 2-1B, John Sabo 1B, Cameron Cygan 1BWednesday: Greenville at Slippery Rock
