GAME PROGRAM INFO
Slippery Rock has moved away from printed game programs for all sports in 2022-23. This page will serve as the "Digital Game Program" for this week's game. To navigate to all gameday info for any SRU home events this year, simply visit
rockathletics.com/gameday or scan the QR code on the "Gameday Info" posters hanging in each facility.
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Winners in six of its last seven contests, the Slippery Rock University baseball team returns home to host Wilmington University for a three-game weekend series at Jack Critchfield Park.
The Rock and Wildcats will play a doubleheader Friday with game one set for a 3 p.m. start followed by a single nine-inning game 12 p.m. Saturday.
LEAVE YOUR PETS AT HOME
Fans are reminded that there are
NO PETS allowed in any SRU athletics facilities. Please do not bring dogs or any other pets to the game. Unless they are a registered service animal, you will be asked to remove your pet from the facility.
WATCH ON YOUR TV - "ROCK ATHLETICS DIGITAL NETWORK" APPS
• Fans can watch all three games this weekend live and on-demand for free on the Rock Athletics Digital Network, created and operated by the SRU athletic communication office.
• Search for Rock Athletics Digital Network in the app stores on Amazon Fire TV, Apple RV, Roku and Android TV devices. The streaming web player linked above will also integrate with Chrome Cast devices to allow viewers to cast the game to those devices.
SERIES DETAILS
Opponent: Wilmington University
Date: Friday (3 p.m./5:30 p.m.), Saturday (12 p.m.)
Location: Jack Critchfield Park
Live Video (All Games): Link (All Games)
Live Stats (All Games): Link (All Games)
In-game Updates: Twitter (
@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: SRU leads 1-0
Last Played: March 11, 1990 (SRU won 11-10)
ALL-TIME SERIES
Slippery Rock owns a 1-0 record all-time against Wilmington. However, the game – an 11-10 Rock win in 1990 – was played before any active roster member of either team was born.
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
Overall Record: 7-3
PSAC West Standings: 1st
NCBWA Regional Ranking: 4th
Home Record: 3-0
Away Record: 4-3
Streak: W1
Last Five Games: 4-1
Head Coach: Jeff Messer | 38th season (1,079-699-5 / .607)
LAST TIME OUT
Slippery Rock took two of three games in a road series at West Virginia State University. SRU took game's one and three of the series courtesy of respective 25-0 and 2-0 wins with a 5-2 loss sandwiched between.
A GAME TO REMEMBER
The highlight of The Rock's series at West Virginia State last weekend was its 25-0 shutout in game one against the Yellow Jackets.
• SRU posted its 25 runs with 18 hits that included four doubles and three home runs in addition to taking advantage of nine walks.
• The win was the largest margin of victory in program history – the previous record was 24 against California (25-1, 1988), USciences (26-2, 2009) and Mansfield (25-1, 2018).
• The 25 runs scored against WVSU is also tied for the fourth highest run total in program history.
• The Rock scored 15 runs in the fifth inning of the lopsided win, which is tied for the highest single-inning run total in the program dating back to 2003 – SRU also scored 15 runs in the sixth inning against West Liberty in 2008.
•
Jon Kozarian recorded seven RBI in the game, the second highest single-game total at SRU since 2003.
• Slippery Rock is the only team in Division II to have scored at least 23 runs in a game three times this season and is one of only three D-II teams with multiple games of at least 23 runs along with Lewis (2) and St. Cloud State (2).
• Across the entire NCAA, regardless of the division, there are just two teams with three games of at least 23 runs in 2023 – The Rock and Wake Forest.
HARD TO SCORE AGAINST
The Rock's pitching staff has allowed more than four runs in a game just once in its first 10 games. All told, SRU, which has a team ERA of just 2.63, is surrendering just 3.7 runs per game with opponents hitting just .201 against SRU.
GETTING WINS MULTIPLE WAYS
In addition to posting four wins by seven or more runs, including two wins of at least 20 runs, Slippery Rock has also found itself just as comfortable in tight games with three of its wins all coming in two-run decisions.
STARTING STRONG
Through its first 10 games, Slippery Rock is outscoring its opponents 14-2 in the first inning of games. SRU has scored runs in the first inning in five of its 10 contests while allowing opponent runs in the opening inning just once – Shippensburg scored twice in its 3-1 win vs. SRU on Feb. 25.
DUNN GETS ALL THE AWARDS
Not to be overlooked in The Rock's 25-0 victory against WVSU was the performance of starting pitcher
Devin Dunn, who threw a complete game three-hit shutout. Dunn had his efforts recognized by being named both the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Atlantic Region Pitcher of the Week.
SRU IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
(Out of 248 D2 Teams)
Doubles Per Game: 1st – 3.00
ERA: 3rd – 2.63
WHIP: 3rd – 1.07
Hits Allowed Per 9 Innings: 5th - 6.7
Strikeout-to-Walk Ratio: 5th – 3.30
Walks Allowed Per 9 Innings: 8th – 2.96
Scoring: 12th – 9.8 runs per game
EHLAND WITH ANOTHER 3-BAGGER
Joseph Ehland hit yet another triple in The Rock's 2-0 win against West Virginia State. Ehland has now legged out four triples this season which ranks second in all of Division II behind only Joseph Smith of Savannah State (5).
ISN'T HE GRAND
Part of The Rock's 15-run fifth inning in game one of the West Virginia State series was a
Jon Kozarian grand slam. The grand slam was the first of Kozarian's career and the 26th by Rock hitter since 2003.
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
Since its opening during the 2002 season, Slippery Rock is an impressive 232-127 (.646) in games played at the friendly confines of Jack Critchfield Park. SRU has been particularly tough to beat at home as of late as SRU is 42-14 (.750) over the last two years. The Rock swept Alliance in a three-game series in its only home contests of the 2023 season.
SLIPPERY ROCK IN NON-CONFERENCE GAMES
The last four years have seen The Rock go an impressive 39-11 (.780) in regular season non-conference games. As impressive as its overall non-conference record is, SRU is even better when hosting non-conference games at Critchfield Park as Slippery Rock is 25-4 (.862) over that time.
BIG GAMES FROM THE ROTATION
A big key to The Rock's early success has been the production from the starting pitcher trio of Dunn,
Luke Trueman and
Joey Purcell. The three have made nine combined starts, going 4-1 with a 1.52 ERA, 54 strikeouts, just nine walks allowed and an opponent batting average of .191.
• The Rock's three top starters have been on the mound for 53.1 of The Rock's 82 innings played this year (64.8 percent).
• Over three starts in 2023, Dunn is 2-0 with a 0.53 ERA and .143 opponent batting average to go with 15 strikeouts and just two walks over 17 total innings pitched. He has pitched back-to-back complete-game shutouts.
• Dunn also pitched back-to-back shutouts early last season. Dating back to the 2005 season (19 years), he is one of just two pitchers at The Rock to have thrown consecutive complete-game shutouts at any point in a season with the other being former SRU great, and current New York Yankee, Lou Trivino who had three straight shutouts to start his 2013 season.
• Trueman has pitched a team-high 19.1 innings this season, going 2-1 with a 1.86 ERA, .206 opponent batting average and 19 strikeouts. He is coming off one his best career outings as he logged 7.2 scoreless innings with nine strikeouts in SRU's 2-0 win March 12 vs. West Virginia State.
• In his first season as a member of The Rock's rotation, Purcell has pitched 17 innings over his three starts, striking out a team-high 20 batters and posting a 2.12 ERA and a .219 opponent batting average. Purcell, who pitched seven shutout innings in SRU's 5-2 loss at WVSU, had nine strikeouts against the Yellow Jackets following an eight-strikeout game March 4 vs. Alliance.
WILBUR TO THE RESCUE
Mark Wilbur earned his first collegiate save as part of The Rock's 2-0 victory at WVSU last weekend. Coming on with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth inning, Wilbur got The Rock out of the high-leverage saturation and then struck out three batters in the ninth to seal the win.
Wilbur has made two appearances this season, one start and his previously mentioned relief appearance. All told, he has pitched 5.2 innings and will bring a 1.59 ERA and seven strikeouts into the weekend.
THE REST OF THE BULLPEN
• Four Rock pitchers have appeared in multiple games as relievers this season, led by
Robert Herr who has pitched in team-high four games this year. Herr, who has pitched six innings over the four games, is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA, eight strikeouts and just two hits allowed.
•
Tanner Esposito has pitched a team-high 7.2 relief innings this year stretched over three games. Entering the weekend, he is 1-1 with a 2.35 ERA and .167 opponent batting average.
Eoin Rossman (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.2 IP) and
Gino Marra (0-0, 12.60 ERA, 5.0 IP) have also made multiple appearances as well.
• Rounding out SRU's relievers so far with one game pitched each is
Parker Hogge and
Jake Norris.
THE ROCK OFFENSE
• Second baseman
Koby Bubash has shown a knack for getting on base early on this season. Bubash, who is batting .367 with 14 runs and seven RBI, not only has 11 hits this season but has also drawn a team-high eight walks in addition to being hit by seven pitches resulting in a .565 on-base percentage.
• The senior duo of Kozarian and
Alex Robenolt have combined to drive in 31 runs this season. Robenolt enters the weekend hitting .366 with 12 runs, three home runs and 13 RBI to go with a .400 on-base percentage. Kozarian is in the midst of a bounce-back year at the plate as he's batting .318 with 15 runs, two home runs and 18 RBI over 10 starts.
• Ehland, The Rock's starting centerfielder, has hit .367 so far this year with 11 runs and seven RBI. He is also tied for second on the team in walks with seven while producing six extra-base hits.
•
Noah Ross first joined the program as a freshman out of Meadville, Pennsylvania prior to the 2020 season and compiled just three hits in 15 career at-bats through his first three years at The Rock. In a testament to patience and making the most of an opportunity, Ross has shined in the early stages of the 2023 season.
So far this year, Ross has started six combined games as SRU's designated hitter and No. 2 catcher behind
Robby Barrientos. Over those starts, Ross has posted 10 hits in 23 at-bats for a .435 batting average, 11 runs and five RBI.
• When not on the mound, Trueman occupies right field for The Rock and hits .345 with four runs, one home run and six RBI. 70 percent of his 10 hits this year have gone for extra bases (six doubles, one home run).
• Much like Trueman, Purcell splits time between SRU's pitching rotation and starting lineup. When serving as a position player, Purcell plays first base and serves as The Rock's leadoff hitter. He is fourth among Rock starters in on-base percentage (.438) while also scoring eight runs.
• In his first season as SRU's starting third baseman, veteran
Colin Cain is batting .300 with four runs, one home run and 10 RBI.
•
Cam Panyko Morris played in two games during the West Virginia State series and went 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBI. Morris, an outfielder, made his first collegiate start in game three of the series, going 1-for-2 with an RBI and a walk.
STREAKING
• Robenolt has reached base in 16 straight games dating back to the end of the 2022 season.
• Robenolt has played in 111 consecutive games, 109 of which have been starts. If he starts all three games this weekend, he will pass
Billy Messer (111) for sixth place on The Rock's career consecutive starts list. Slippery Rock Athletics Hall of Famer Nate Thimons holds the program record for consecutive starts with 192.
• Ehland and Kozarian will carry matching seven-game hitting streaks into the weekend. Ross has hit safely in five straight games this season as well.
CAREER RECORDS WATCH
Hits (No. 16-20)
16. Adam Jury (2008-11): 173
17. Joe Campagna (2016-19): 166
t18: Jon Kozarian: 165
t18. Alex Bell (2014-16): 165
t18. Nate Statzer (2003-04): 165
Doubles (No. 9-13)
t9. Tom Huff (1991-94): 41
t9. Jon Kozarian: 41
t10. Kevin Keryan (1988-91): 40
t12. Alex Robenolt: 39
t12. Chase Rowe (2003-05): 39
Home Runs (No. 16-18)
t16. Alex Bell (2014-16): 17
t16. Chase Rowe (2003-05): 17
t18: Alex Robenolt: 16
t18. Four others: 16
Runs Scored (No. 14-17)
14. Frankie Jezioro (2016-19): 130
t15. Will Kengor (2011-14): 125
t15. Craig White (1987-89): 125
17. Jon Kozarian: 124
RBI (No. 13-17)
13. Alex Bell (2014-16): 113
14. Christian Porterfield (2015-18): 112
t15.
Billy Messer (2007-10): 109
t15. Gary Gubbings (1988-90): 109
17. Jon Kozarian: 106
Strikeouts (No. 4-8)
4. Mark Dolan (1996-99): 190
5. Craig Petulla (1998-00): 177
6. Zach Jeney (2010-12): 175
7. Kyle Schneider (2012-15): 166
8. Luke Trueman: 161
WILMINGTON PRIMER
Overall Record: 6-7
CACC South Standings: 3rd
NCBWA Regional Ranking: 9th (East Region)
Home Record: 0-0
Away Record: 1-2
Neutral Site Record: 5-5
Streak: W1
Last Five Games: 2-3
Head Coach: Brian August | 19th season (528-337-2 / .610)
LAST TIME OUT
The Wildcats picked up a 9-8 nine-inning win on the road Wednesday at Shippensburg University.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Wilmington comes to SRU scoring 4.9 runs per game over its first 13 contests while allowing 5.9. The Wildcats opened the season by sweeping New Haven in a doubleheader and splitting games against Molloy (L) and Franklin Pierce (W), but has since gone just 3-6.
TOP WU HITTERS
Matt Warrington: .333 AVG (7-21) – 3 Runs – 1 HR - 4 RBI - 348 OBP
Nick Nocella: .321 AVG (9-28) – 4 Runs – 3 HR - 10 RBI - .382 OBP
JJ Killen: .306 AVG (11-36) – 4 Runs – 1 HR - 10 RBI - .409 OBP
Nic Hertzfeld: .256 AVG (10-39) – 7 Runs – 6 RBI - 3 SB - .370 OBP
TOP WU PITCHERS
Warrington: 2-0 – 18.2 IP – 1.93 ERA – 25 K / 5 BB - .243 OBA
Rich Albrecht: 0-3 – 16.0 IP – 5.06 ERA – 17 K / 6 BB - .183 OBA
Kyle Maxwell: 0-1 – 13.0 IP – 4.15 ERA – 8 K / 2 BB - .280 OBA
Dom Grady: 2-1 – 1 Save – 8.1 IP – 5.40 ERA – 11 K / 2 BB - .308 OBA
WU RECENT RESULTS
March 15 – at Shippensburg – W, 9-8
March 11 – vs. Grand Valley State (In Florida) – L, 4-2
March 11 – vs. Grand Valley State (In Florida) – L, 2-0
March 10 – at Florida Tech – L, 8-3
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock opens PSAC West competition with a four-game series against Mercyhurst University March 24-25. SRU will first host the Lakers for a doubleheader March 24 at Jack Critchfield Park before traveling to Erie for two games March 25.
To stay up to date with all that happens at The Rock, follow our official athletic communication accounts on Twitter (@Rock_Athletics), Facebook (RockAthletics) and Instagram (RockAthletics).
