SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Senior Damin Muth (Breinigsville, Pa./Parkland) went 4-for-9 with two home runs and nine runs batted in to help the Bloomsburg University baseball team to a non-conference split at Slippery Rock University on Tuesday afternoon. Bloomsburg took the opener by a 14-6 final in nine innings as the Huskies scored eight runs in the top of the ninth inning to snap a 6-6 tie. Slippery Rock held off a late Huskies' rally in the nightcap as was able to secure the split with a 5-4 win in game two. The Huskies moved to 20-16-1 overall while The Rock moved to 18-13 on the season.

Muth went 3-for-6 with a home run and six runs batted in for the Huskies in the opening-game victory. Five of his six runs drive in came during the eight-run rally in the top of the ninth inning. He then hit a three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning of game two to pull the Huskies within a run. However, Slippery Rock was able to hang on for the one-run victory.

In the opener, freshman Chad Cooperman (Allentown, Pa./Salisbury) got the start on the mound for the Huskies - just his second start of the season - but was greeted rudely by The Rock as the hosts scored a pair of runs on four hits in the bottom of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. Bloomsburg got a run back in the top of the second on a run-scoring double from freshman Tyler Nowmos (Wrightstown, Pa./Council Rock North). In the bottom of the third, Slippery Rock recaptured its two-run lead on a solo home run from Tyler Walters to give the home team a 3-1 advantage.

Bloomsburg answered with a run in the top of the fourth to cut Slippery Rock's lead to 3-2. Nowmos started the rally with a two-out walk and then promptly stole second base to get into scoring position. Redshirt junior Cy Treaster (Lewistown, Pa./Mifflin County) came through with a clutch two-out single back up the middle to get the Huskies back to within a run. Redshirt freshman Mark Bobko (Metuchen, N.J./St. Joseph Metuchen) came on in relief and kept The Rock off the scoreboard in the fourth and fifth innings and then got help from freshman Brett Alaimo (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) in the sixth to hold the hosts at bay. However, the Huskies could not dent the scoreboard during the stretch, either, and The Rock took a 3-2 lead into the seventh.

That's when the fireworks started.

Nowmos started the top of the seventh with a leadoff walk to jump start the Huskies. After the first out of the inning the freshman stole second, but remained in scoring position as Slippery Rock reliever, Andrew Null, recorded the second out of the inning on strikes. Redshirt junior Austin Edgette (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) singled back to the mound to put runners at first and third with two outs and then Nowmos scampered home when Null uncorked a wild pitch to tie the game at 3-3. Junior Tyler Benson (Montville, N.J./Montville Township) was hit by a pitch to keep the inning alive and Muth put the Huskies ahead for the first time in the contest with a run-scoring single back up the middle. Benson ended up scoring the third run of the inning when Shiffer reached on an error.

But, the Huskies could not hold the 5-3 advantage as Slippery Rock tied the game at 5-5 in the bottom half of the seventh to send the game to extra innings. Both runs were charged to Alaimo as he could not record an out in the seventh. Sophomore Jeremy Zezza (Exeter, Pa./Wyoming Area) came on with the game tied and the potential winning run at second base and, after a sacrifice bunt sent the runner to third, the righthander intentionally walked Walters to put runners at first and third with one out. Zezza then made the pitch of the game as he got Christian Porterfield to bounce into a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat.

Nowmos belted a one-out solo home run to left field in the top of the eighth to give the Huskies a 6-5 lead. But, again, Bloomsburg could not hang on as Slippery Rock tied the game with a single run in the bottom half of the inning.

In the top of the ninth, however, the Huskies made sure there would not be a third comeback as they scored eight runs on five hits to blow the game open. Edgette and Benson led off with back-to-back singles and then Muth launched a three-run home run to left to give the Huskies a 9-6 lead. But, Bloomsburg was just getting started. Shiffer walked and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from redshirt senior Ryuta Amaike (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall). Three consecutive hits batsmen accounted for the fourth run of the inning as Shiffer scored when freshman Andrew Holmes (Egg Harbor Township, N.J./Egg Harbor Township) was plunked with the bases loaded. Sophomore Joey Wrabel (Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) extended the lead to 12-6 with a two-run single through the left side of the infield. Three batters later, Muth, was up again and laced a two-run single for the final two runs of the inning. Zezza allowed a hit in the bottom of the ninth but The Rock could not score.

Both teams had a dozen hits in the opener. Nowmos was 2-for-2 with four runs scored and two runs batted in while Edgette also had a pair of hits for the Huskies. Zezza got the win as he improved to 2-0 on the season. He allowed a run on three hits in three innings of work.

In game two, Slippery Rock took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second against junior starter Mike Vranesich (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo) and then added three runs in the bottom of the fifth - two on a two-run home run from James Divosevic - to take a 4-0 advantage. During the stretch, the Huskies were held hitless through the first five innings against Slippery Rock starter, Tyler Markovic. Shiffer broke up the no-hitter, and the shutout, when he launched his sixth home run of the season with one out in the top of the sixth.

Slippery Rock added, what turned out to be, a huge insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 5-1 advantage. The Huskies battled in the top of the seventh against Slippery Rock reliever, Trevor Adkins. Edgette started the rally with a one-out single and then advanced to third on a double by Benson. Slippery Rock went back to the bullpen and brought in Preston Falascino who gave up a three-run home run to Muth - his second round-tripper of the day and sixth of the season - to cut the lead to 5-4. Two batters later, Amaike singled to put the tying run on base, but Falascino was able to get out of the jam to secure the victory.

Amaike had two of Bloomsburg's six hits in game two.

Vranesich dropped to 0-2 on the season after allowing two runs on four hits in four innings. He walked three and struck out three.

The Huskies will begin a four-game weekend series with PSAC East-leading West Chester on Friday, April 21, in West Chester. The teams will reconvene in Bloomsburg on Saturday, April 22. Both doubleheaders are slated to begin at 1:00 p.m.