SLIPPERY ROCK— The Sliders kicked up dust late, but they threw the game away early.

Two critical errors by pitcher Nick Tracy helped Chillicothe (Ohio) build a 7-1 lead by the fifth inning Wednesday and the visiting Paints held on for a 9-6 victory over Slippery Rock at Critchfield Park.

The game marked the final home contest of the Sliders' inaugural season. Slippery Rock, 28-62 overall, was 10-20 in its home ballpark.

The Sliders close the season with a five-game series at the Washington Wild Things.

"I want to see us back here next year,"Sliders manager Greg Jelks said. "I'm hopeful it happens. I've still got something to prove here.

"This can be a winning organization, and, if we're given the chance to return, I'll be the first one in line raising his hand to make it happen."

Slippery Rock closed its home schedule with a bang, scoring four runs on four hits in the bottom of the ninth inning. Chillicothe pitcher Perry Cunningham had limited the Sliders to three hits and two runs in the first eight frames.

The Sliders' Bernie Dennis delivered a run-scoring single after Anthony Albano doubled and D.J. Dixon walked with one out in the ninth. Bryan Vickers, who hit a solo homer in the fourth, drilled a three-run double to the right-center field gap with two outs in the final inning.

But Cy Donald fouled out to third to end the game.

"This season's almost over and everyone's anxious to go home to our families,"Vickers said. "But we still have games to play, we're still getting paid and we're not gonna quit.

"Maybe our fan base is the smallest in the league, but the people who come to our games care about us. We've gotten to know the fans. They're excited to have baseball here and we want to stay."

Sliders right-hander Nick Tracy (3-12) worked the first five innings and surrendered seven runs on eight hits. His own fielding proved to be his worst enemy.

Tracy bobbled a grounder back to the mound in the first inning, enabling Chillicothe to load the bases and to set up a three-run frame.

A comebacker to the mound with one out in the fifth should have resulted in an inning-ending double play, but Tracy threw the ball into center field. Travis Storrer followed with a two-run triple, highlighting another three-run inning for the Paints.

"Pitchers have to be able to field their position,"Jelks said. "That's part of the game. (Tracy)has been pitching a lot better his past few starts and I knew he'd pitch well tonight. That was a shame."

Tracy threw 92 pitches in five innings, 58 for strikes. Cunningham (10-5) threw 126 pitches before being pulled after Vickers' ninth-inning double.

"We fought back in the ninth and our team has showed a lot of character over this past month,"said Sliders outfielder and Slippery Rock graduate Jason Curry. "I've heard rumors the team is staying in Slippery Rock. Nothing's official yet, but I hope it's true."

Sliders general manager Steve Tahsler said a conference call among league owners and the commissioner's office to discuss the Sliders' future is scheduled Friday.

"Unofficially, I can say it looks good, but we're anticipating some sort of announcement sometime in September,"Tahsler said.

The Sliders are 13-14 in August and need one more win this month to match their victory total in May, June and July combined. The team was 14-48 in that span.

The Sliders drew 1,691 fans in their final two home games, including 906 Wednesday night.

Chillicothe 301 031 100—9 12 1Slippery Rock 001 010 004—6 7 3Perry Cunningham (W, 5k, 1bb), Daryl Arreola (9, SV, 0k, 0bb) and Dan Cummins; Nick Tracy (L, 4k, 1bb), Jason Cline (6, 1k, 2bb), Jon Dandridge (9, 0k, 1bb) and D.J. Dennis.

Chillicothe (43-49): J.T. Thomas 2B 1B, Gavin Ng 2-1BRBI, Travis Garcia 2-R, Adrian Cantu HR2-R, Travis Storrer 1B 3B 4-RBI2-R, Dan Cummins 1B 2B2-RBI, Josh Miller 2B 1B, Jon Poterson RBI, Paul Rutgers 2B

Slippery Rock (28-62): Casey Bowling 1BRBI, Anthony Albano 2B, Bernie Dennis 1BRBI, Robbie Hine 1B, Jason Curry 1B, Bryan Vickers HR2B4-RBI

Thursday: Slippery Rock atWashington, DH, 6:05 p.m.