SLIPPERY ROCK - There's no sugarcoating it now. The Rock's season is in a serious slide.

The latest boulder to fall on the Slippery Rock University baseball team came from Shippensburg, which thoroughly frustrated The Rock hitters in earning a 6-1, 6-0 doubleheader sweep at Jack Critchfield Park Friday.

"It's a no-brainer," said Slippery Rock coach Jeff Messer. "It's not even something to get upset about. They beat us in every facet of the game."

The Rock (24-10 overall, 5-5 in the PSAC West) began the season 22-2, but has now lost eight of its last 10 games.

The lone bright spot for SRU came from the NCAA when a win against Bloomsburg on a Florida trip in March was given back to The Rock.

It had been yanked away because the game went only seven innings, instead of the nine innings mandated by the NCAA for single games against an opponent.

"I guess that is something positive there," Messer quipped.

There wasn't much positive on the field as Shippensburg pitchers Lee McClintock and Frank D'Agostino dominated the struggling Slippery Rock hitters.

The Rock managed just six hits in the two games while Shippensburg collected 27.

McClintock struck out nine and walked just one in seven innings. The left-hander, who has flustered SRU in past seasons, did so again, giving up just four hits.

McClintock came into the game with 45 strikeouts and just six walks this season. That made The Rock attack his offerings early in the count, which resulted in rapid outs.

"If you get your pitch, you better go get it," Messer said. "If he gets ahead in the count against you, it makes it tough."

While The Rock bats struggled, Shippensburg was red hot at the plate.

The Raiders collected 14 hits in the first game, including a two-run home run from Jared Boger in the fourth inning that broke open the game and gave Shippensburg a 5-0 lead.

The barrage of hits came against SRU starter Rocky D'Angelo, who had a rocky start in his first appearance since pulling himself out of a game against Clarion last week because of a rib cage injury.

"He's a bulldog," Messer said. "He told me he wasn't hurting and he's been with me for four years. If he tells me he's OK, then I believe him."

D'Angelo went the distance, giving up six runs - four earned - while striking out four.

Things didn't get much better in the second game as D'Agostino tossed a two-hitter, giving up singles to Chase Rowe and J.D. Lowry.

"The pitchers have really hung in there for us," said Shippensburg coach Bruce Peddie. "We haven't been scoring many runs for them. But today we didn't allow (SRU) to get too much momentum."

The Rock had no momentum in the second game, falling behind 2-0 in the top of the first and giving starter Colin Scott no offensive support.

Scott went six innings, striking out four and walking one.

Now Slippery Rock must travel to Shippensburg Saturday for a make-or-break doubleheader.

"That first game is so important," Messer said. "If we can win that first one, we have a chance to sweep them."

As it is now, The Rock and the Raiders are tied for third in the PSAC-West. Only the top three teams advance to the playoffs.

"We are playing tight," Messer said. "And I don't know why. We were 22-2 and you don't win 22 games because everyone is rolling over for you. We shouldn't be tight.

"That's the hardest thing right now. When do I start pulling the string and going to some other guys? I have some guys who are really struggling right now."

Game 1

Shippensburg 012 210 0 - 6 14 0

Slippery Rock 000 001 0 - 1 4 2

WP:

Lee McClintock (7 IP) 9 strikeouts, 1 walk.

LP:

Rock D'Angelo (7 IP) 4 strikeouts, 0 walks

Shippensburg:

Jared Boger HR, 1B, 2-RBI; Chad Stecker 1B; Eric Perlozzo 2B, 1B; Nick Erdman 1B; Jeremy Hess 1B, RBI; Scott Goss 2B, 1B; Ryan Miscik 2-1B; Justin Garber 2B, 1B, 2-RBI; Adam Caron 1B

Slippery Rock:

Chase Rowe 2B; Phil Butch 1B; Matt Kozusko 1B; Brad Wilson 1B, RBI

Game 2

Shippensburg 202 010 1 - 6 13 0

Slippery Rock 000 000 0 - 0 2 0

WP:

Frank D'Agostino (7 IP) 8 strikeouts, 1 walk.

LP:

Colin Scott (6 IP) 4 strikeouts, 1 walk

Shippensburg (21-19, 5-5):

Chad Stecker 2-1B; Nick Erdman 1B, 2B, 3B, RBI; Tyler Wise 1B, 2B, 2-RBI; Justin Garber 2B; Jeremy Hess 1B, 2B; Adam Caron 1B

Slippery Rock (23-10, 5-5):

Chase Rowe 1B; J.D. Lowry 1B