SLIPPERYROCK — Fans at Critchfield Park could have gone on a baseball hunt instead of an Easter egg search on the hillside beyond the left-field fence.

The SlipperyRock University baseball team flexed its muscles Friday afternoon, hitting five home runs in the nightcap of a doubleheader sweep over Clarion University.

The Rock claimed the first game 4-0 and pounded out 16 hits — eight for extra bases — in a 14-2 thumping of the Golden Eagles in Game 2.

"I can't remember the last time we hit five home runs in a game," said SlipperyRock coach Jeff Messer. "I can't remember when we had two guys hit two home runs in the same game, either."

But that's what happened for The Rock in the second game. Brad Wilson and Ryan Dillon each went deep twice, Dillon in back-to-back at-bats in the fifth and sixth innings.

SlipperyRock (23-11 overall, 9-1 in the PSAC West) hit three of its home runs in a nine-run sixth inning that turned a 5-2 game into a rout.

The unfortunate victim of The Rock's barrage was Clarion right-handed reliever Ryan Capan, who gave up nine earned runs in two innings of work.

Capan had to take one for the team as Clarion's beleaguered pitching staff faces The Rock two more times on Saturday.

"They left him out there," Messer said. "They had to. They played four games this week like we did. I would have done the same thing."

In addition to the five home runs, The Rock had three doubles bang off the outfield wall, and Messer said he was a bit surprised by the power surge his team showed.

"If you look at our stats, we haven't hit that many home runs this season," Messer said.

TheRock came into the doubleheader with nine home runs.

Wilson said he believes SRU is capable of reproducing that power display again.

"We could have had more (home runs) today," the junior catcher said. "We hit a lot of balls deep up and down the lineup."

With that kind of run support, it was smooth sailing for Rock starter JohnKatich.

Working quickly, Katich struck out two and didn't walk a batter while scattering six hits. The two runs Clarion scored were unearned.

"Our pitching staff has done a great job," Wilson said. "This season has been great because its been so many different guys helping us. We're not waiting for the No. 3 hitter to come up to knock in runs. We have nine different guys winning games for us."

In the first game, Derek Blyzwick didn't need much support, either.

The right-hander pitched a seven-hit shutout — his second of the season — and improved to 4-0 with a 1.42 ERA.

"Coming into the season, I wasn't sure if we had a No. 1 (pitcher)," Messer said. "I knew we had a bunch of No. 2s, but Derek had emerged as that (ace)."

The Rock roughed upClarion starter and Butler HighSchool graduate Josh Gerstel, chasing him in the second inning after building a 3-0 lead.

Gerstel dropped to 1-3 and his ERA ballooned to 9.53 this season. Clarion's team ERA jumped to a conference-high 7.43.

For SlipperyRock, which was coming off three straight losses, the sweep was vital.

If The Rock sweeps ClarionSaturday, it will clinch a PSAC playoff spot.

Last year, SRU lost three out of four to the Golden Eagles and missed the conference playoffs.

Game 1Clarion 000 000 0—0 7 0Slippery Rock 102 100 x—4 9 1WP: Derek Blyzwick (7 IP) 5 strikeouts, 2 walks.

LP: Josh Gerstel (2 IP) 1 strikeout, 0 walks

Clarion: Dustin Watt 2B, 1B; Matt Allen 1B; Jake Yakovich 1B; Jordan Andrulonis 2B; Doug Brown 1B

SlipperyRock: Phil Butch 3B, 1B, RBI; Todd Schickling 2B, 1B, RBI; RyanDillon 2B; Dave Gonos 2-1B, RBI; Brad Wilson 2-1B, RBI

Game 2Clarion 001 100 0—2 6 1Slippery Rock 002 219 x—14 16 3WP: John Katich (7 IP) 2 strikeouts, 0 walks.

LP: Brandon Federici (4 IP) 5 strikeouts, 1 walk

Clarion (10-22, 3-7): Watt 2-1B; Allen 1B, RBI; Tyler Martz 1B; Brown 1B

SlipperyRock (23-11, 9-1): Butch 2B, 3-RBI; Schickling HR, 3-RBI; Dillon 2-HR, 2-RBI; Gonos 1B; Wilson 2-HR, 3-RBI; Billy Herman 1B; Chris Tolliver 2-2B, 1B, RBI; Rich Michalek 2B, 2-1B, 2-RBI; J.D. Lowry 2-1B

Saturday: SRU at Clarion (2 games)