SLIPPERY ROCK — Sophomore catcher Alex Bell blooped a run-scoring single into left-center field with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning Saturday at Critchfield Park.

The hit plated the winning run for Slippery Rock University and capped a two-run rally as SRU nipped Pitt-Johnstown, 6-5, in the second game of a baseball doubleheader.

UPJ won the first game, 5-4.

The Rock (23-15, 12-10) holds a percentage point lead over UPJ (18-22, 13-11) for third place in the PSAC West entering the final week of regular season play. The top four teams in the PSAC West and East will play in the conference tournament next week at Kelly Automotive Park.

SRU travels to Clarion for a doubleheader today before returning home to host Mercyhurst Friday. The latter date will be Senior Day and is also designated by Rock baseball as its SRU 125th Anniversary game.

Kevin Jovanovich hit his team-leading third home run of the season — a three-run shot — in the fourth inning of Saturday’s nightcap. Jordan Faretta added a RBI single in the sixth for a 4-2 lead.

Rock closer John Kovalik allowed three runs in the top of the seventh before SRU battled back. Adam Urbania, who had two hits in the game, plated the tying run on an infield out before Bell’s heroics.

Jovanovich, Jake Nogalo and Urbania had three hits for SRU in the first game. Will Kengor hit a solo home run.

Softball

SRU suffered a doubleheader sweep at Clarion Saturday afternoon, losing the first game 1-0 in 10 innings and the second game, 6-3.

Pitching dominated the opener as The Rock and Clarion combined for 24 strikeouts and only nine hits. SRU senior Emily Lobdell struck out 11 and walked none, getting saddled with the loss by allowing an unearned run in the 10th. Clarion pitcher Shawnna Crago fanned 13 in the win.

Ashley Samluk had a double and single for SRU. Clarion’s win snapped a 56-game losing streak in conference play, dating back to April of 2011.

Freshman catcher McKenzie Popatak had a two-run single for The Rock in the second game, but Clarion (3-22, 2-16) scored three times in the fifth to snap a 3-3 tie.

SRU (13-20, 9-11) is in fourth place in the PSAC West and hosts Salem International in a twinbill at 3 p.m. today.

Women’s lacrosse

Kutztown goalkeeper JoAnn McLaughlin made 19 saves Saturday to hand SRU a 7-6 loss on Senior Day.

The Rock’s three seniors — Morgan Pettit, Lacey Allis and Kaitlyn Hafdell — were honored before the game.

SRU’s six goals matched a season low as the team slipped to 6-9 overall, 3-7 in the PSAC. Kutztown is 4-10, 2-8. SRU had a 34-12 advantage in shots.

Jess Verbic had three goals for The Rock, Katie Cook three assists. Allis, Paige Costantino and Mary Kate Schwartz scored a goal each.

Rock head coach Emily Hopkins missed the game as she gave birth to her second child, a daughter, Saturday morning.