SLIPPERYROCK— One day after losing his starting position, Travis Chapman made his team a winner.

The former Pittsburgh Pirates draft choice — who lost the Slippery Rock Sliders' starting catching position when the Sliders signed Brian Dennis Saturday — delivered a bases-loaded single with two outs in the 10th inning Sunday night.

That hit gave the Sliders a 2-1 Frontier League victory over the Washington Wild Things at Critchfield Park — and averted what could have been a crushing loss.

"That was a huge, huge hit," Sliders manager Greg Jelks said. "This would have been a devastating game to lose, seeing as how we had so many opportunities to win it."

The game was actually a continuation of Saturday's contest, which was suspended because of rain in the third inning with the Sliders holding a 1-0 lead. That one run came on a leadoff home run by Jarrod Klausman — the Sliders' first home run at Critchfield Park and only their third round-tripper as a team.

Derek Duclos picked up for starting pitcher Matt Keller when play resumed Sunday and tossed four scoreless frames. The Wild Things tied the game on a solo homer by Kyle Padgett leading off the eighth.

The Sliders had runners in scoring position in innings three through eight, but couldn't score. A line-drive double play snuffed one rally. Agroundball double play killed another.

With runners at first and second and none out in the sixth, designated hitter Steve Georgion failed to get a bunt down, then struck out looking. Jason Von Behren and Kory Lonergan then took called third strikes to end the inning.

The Sliders did put down four successful sacrifice bunts Sunday.

"We're a young team that has to learn to take advantage of scoring opportunities by putting the ball in play,"Jelks said.

Nate Yoho's fourth hit of the game — a single to center — began the Sliders' 10th inning. He stole second and kept on going to third when the catcher's throw got away.

Jason Curry and Georgion were intentionally walked to load the bases. Von Behren struck out in his four previous plate appearances, only to ground into a pitcher-to-home-to-first double play this time around.

Pinch-hitter Bryan Vickers walked to load the bases. Chapman, who entered the game in the eighth inning after Dennis left for a pinch-runner, singled sharply to center on the first pitch to end the game.

"I was sitting on a fastball because I knew the guy wasn't gonna want to fall behind in the count with the bases loaded,"Chapman said.

Jelks said the Sliders signed Dennis — a former teammate of Yoho's in the Milwaukee Brewers' organization — because "I needed someone who could catch and throw back there."

"He'll be our starting catcher from here on out," Jelks said.

But he's glad Chapman is still around. And Chapman has no problem with his new role.

"I'm not disappointed at all (in the Dennis signing),"Chapman said. "If it makes our team better, I'm all for it. This is all about winning. I'm staying positive about this."

The Sliders have defeated first-place Washington twice in three games..

"No one on this team ever gives up,"Yoho said. "We can play with anybody in this league. We just have to believe it."

Notes:Sunday's originally scheduled game was suspended by rain after two innings with the Sliders ahead, 2-1. It will pick up at that point as part of a doubleheader with the Wild Things here June 28. ... Caleb McConnell, the Sliders' starting pitcher on Opening Day, announced his retirement. "He had arm soreness after his two starts coming off Tommy John surgery and doctors told him he could risk permanent damage by continuing to pitch,"team general manager Steve Tahsler said. ... The Sliders' average attendance of 688 per home game is last in the Frontier League. Chillicothe is second-lowest at 1,651. "We're not discouraged,"Tahsler said. "Schools aren't out yet and the word is still getting out. I think we can average 1,000 per game. That's a realistic goal."

Washington 000 000 0100—1 4 2Slippery Rock 100 000 0001—2 9 0Aaron Ledbetter (1k, 0bb), Tom Cochran (3, 8k, 4bb), Jeff Michael (9, L, 0k, 3bb) and Pat O'Brien; Matt Keller (3k, 1bb), Derek Duclos (4, 6k, 1bb), Brian Baxter (8, W, 1k, 0bb) and Bernie Dennis, Travis Chapman (8).

Washington (8-3): Matt Sutton 1B, Nathan Messner 1B, Ben Ramsey 1B, Kyle Padgett HR

Slippery Rock (5-6): Jarrod Klausman HR1B, Nate Yoho 2-2B 2-1B, Jason Curry 1B, Bernie Dennis 1B, Travis Chapman 1BRBI

Tuesday: Slippery Rock @Washington