07/16/2007

Sliders throw Bums a curve

Slippery Rock wins series with 6-1 triumph

FROM STAFF REPORTS

TRAVERSE CITY — The Slippery Rock Sliders threw the Traverse City Beach Bums a curve.

Again.

For the second consecutive night, the Sliders, who own the worst record in the Frontier League, beat the Beach Bums at Wuerfel Park. On Sunday, Judson Smith earned his first professional win as Slippery Rock posted a 6-1 win.

Slippery Rock did the bulk of its scoring early.

The Sliders plated a first inning run for the second straight night as D.J. Dixon drove in a run with a single off starter and loser Phil Tognetti.

The Beach Bums were able to knot the game with a run in the bottom of the second off Smith. Curtis Ledbetter and Sam Orr singled with one out. With two away, Brad Roblin collected his first professional hit, a single that dropped into center field to score Ledbetter from second.

But Slippery Rock scored four runs in the third to grab a 5-1 lead and never looked back. Dixon connected on a three-run homer in the inning — his second roundtripper in two nights.

The Sliders added an insurance run in the eighth on a bases-loaded walk.

Tognetti made his longest start of the season. He went 5.2 innings, allowing five runs. Bryan Rembisz worked two innings in relief and Brett Bostelman threw the final 1.1. Slippery Rock had eight hits in the game.

The loss dropped the Beach Bums to 19-30.

The Beach Bums host the East Division leading Washington Wild Things tonight in a 7:05 p.m.game. It's the opener of a three-game series. The first 1,000 fans will receive a Beach Bums beach ball.

Traverse City will start righthander Robbie McClellan (4-3, 3.59).