Pitt-Johnstown was shut down in a 6-0 defeat in game one before narrowly falling in a 5-4 decision to Slippery Rock in the nightcap of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Sargent's Stadium at the Point.
The Mountain Cats dropped three out of four against The Rock in the opening PSAC West Division series for both teams and fell to 9-12 on the year.
Seth Shuey suffered the loss on the mound in game one after throwing four innings and giving up two runs on six hits with a pair of strikeouts and a walk. Garret Holzapfel and Zach Myers each surrendered two runs on three hits in a combined three innings of relief.
Pitt-Johnstown could not crack Slippery Rock starter Joey Purcell, who tossed a complete game shutout with eight strikeouts and just one walk.
Justin Turcovski and Erik Rhodes each recorded a base hit for the Mountain Cats. Their best chance to get on the board came in the fourth when Josh Ulery walked with two outs. He moved to third on Turcovski's single, but Rhodes grounded out to end the inning.
The Rock notched a run apiece in the first and third innings before adding four insurance runs on four singles in the seventh.
The Mountain Cats did not waste any time in grabbing a lead at the onset of game two. Alex Glumac led off the first with a single and Josh Ulery walked. They both moved into scoring position on a passed ball. Turcovski and designated hitter Calvin Iseminger both walked to force home Glumac and make it 1-0.
Alex Ebeling's two-RBI single increased that lead to 3-0 and it remained that way until Slippery Rock tied the game in the third with three runs on four hits.
The Rock capitalized on a throwing error to take its first lead of the game in the fourth. The Mountain Cats immediately responded in the bottom of the inning when Ulery blasted a solo home run to left center field to tie it at 4-all.
A walk and back-to-back singles pushed across what would end up being the winning run for Slippery Rock in the fifth.
Rhodes started game two and gave up four runs on seven hits in 3.1 innings of work. Antonio Caporossi was charged with the loss after allowing a run on two hits in 1.1 innings. Brandon Cliff followed and threw 2.1 innings of scoreless relief to keep it a one-run game.
Ulery finished 2-for-3, reached base safely three times and scored twice. Devon Boyles, Brody Roberts and Cam Donaldson all notched singles.
The Mountain Cats will host Lock Haven in a non-division game on Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Point Stadium.
