07/15/2007

Sliders snap TC win streak

Slippery Rock jumps out quickly

FROM STAFF REPORTS

TRAVERSE CITY — The Slippery Rock Sliders didn't waste much time putting an end to the Traverse City Beach Bums' winning streak.

Slippery Rock jumped out to a 7-0 advantage and held on for a 7-5 victory over the Bums on Saturday at Wuerfel Park.

The loss snapped a four-game winning streak — all against Slippery Rock — by Traverse City (19-29).

One of the highlights for the Beach Bums was a one-batter appearance by bullpen coach David Beigh, who was activated for the game. Beigh retired from baseball after getting Nate Yoho to ground out leading off the ninth inning and left to a standing ovation.

Slippery Rock (11-36) struck for two runs in the first inning off Traverse City starting pitcher David Nathanson (1-1).

After a single by Phil Butch and a one-out walk to Yoho, Anthony Albano followed with a RBI double to right field. D.J. Dixon then drove in Yoho with a groundout.

The Sliders added two in the third inning, the first on a RBI single to right by Albano.

Yoho put Slippery Rock up 6-0 with a two-run single to left in the fourth inning. The Sliders had nine hits off Nathanson in his four innings of work.

Slippery Rock made it 7-0 on Dixon's solo home run in the seventh. It was the second homer of the season for the Sliders' catcher.

Former Beach Bum Kory Bucklew (1-1) got the start for Slippery Rock and allowed just three hits in six innings.

Brian Baxter came on for the Sliders and surrendered four runs — three earned — without recording an out. Matt Rademacher drove in the first two runs with a single to right field while the final two came in on a fielder's choice by Jeff Brown and a throwing error.

Traverse City added a run in the eighth inning on a fielder's choice by Justin Holmes but could get nothing else across in three innings against Greg Lasinski.

Slippery Rock banged out 12 hits in the contest with Butch, Casey Bowling, Yoho, Albano and Dixon each picking up two from the 1-5 spots in the Sliders' batting order. Ben Ramsey, Jeff Vincent and Rademacher each had two hits for the Beach Bums.

The same two teams meet again at Wuerfel Park tonight. Phil Tognetti (1-1, 3.81 ERA) gets the start for Traverse City and will be opposed by Judson Smith (0-1, 3.00). Game time is set for 6:05 p.m.