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. - The Slippery Rock University baseball team continues its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division schedule with a four-game weekend series against Indiana University (Pa.).
SERIES FORMAT
Slippery Rock will host Indiana (Pa.) for two games Sunday at Jack Critchfield Park before heading to IUP for a doubleheader on Monday. First pitch of game one on both days is set for 1 p.m.
LEAVE YOUR PETS AT HOME
Fans are reminded that there are
NO PETS allowed at Jack Critchfield Park, or 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 Sunday's games 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: Indiana (Pa.)
Games 1-2: Sunday (1 p.m. / 3 p.m) - Jack Critchfield Park
Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
Games 3-4: Monday (1 p.m. / 3 p.m.) – Owen J. Dougherty Field – Indiana, Pennsylvania
Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
All-Time Series: SRU leads 117-85
Last Played: March 29, 2022 (IUP swept DH)
In-game Updates: Twitter (
@Rock_Athletics)
ALL-TIME SERIES
Slippery Rock holds a 117-85 record all-time against IUP and has won seven of the last 10 games between The Rock and Crimson Hawks, but Indiana did take three of four games a season ago.
Luke Trueman has hit .379 (11-for-29) with nine runs, three home runs, 10 RBI and three doubles over 10 career games against the Crimson Hawks.
Trueman has also made three pitching appearances against IUP, going 1-1 with a 2.50 ERA over 18 innings. He has struck out 20 Crimson Hawk hitters all-time while surrendering just one walk and a .238 opponent batting average.
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
Overall Record: 11-7
PSAC West Record: 1-3
PSAC West Standings: t-6th
NCBWA Regional Ranking: 8th
Home Record: 6-3
Away Record: 5-4
Streak: W1
Last Five Games: 2-3
Head Coach: Jeff Messer | 38th season (1,083-703-5 / .606)
SCOUTING THE ROCK
LAST TIME OUT
Slippery Rock avoided a four-game series sweep by Mercyhurst with an 8-7 victory over the Lakers in eight innings on the road Tuesday. Trueman hit one home run while
Alex Robenolt posted four RBI and one homer of his own to go with two shutout innings by reliever
Jake Norris in the win.
2ND LONGEST GAME IN D2 HISTORY
While Slippery Rock was on the wrong end of a 2-1 decision, SRU and Mercyhurst played 20 innings in game three of the series on March 26. According to the NCAA national office, the 20-inning contest was the second longest game in Division II history in terms of total innings played behind only a 22-inning contest between Kentucky Wesleyan and Oakland City on April 20, 1964.
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
Since its opening during the 2002 season, Slippery Rock is an impressive 235-130 (.635) 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 45-17 (.726) over the last two years including a 6-3 mark this season.
THE ROCK PITCHING STAFF
· As a staff, Slippery Rock ranks second in the PSAC in walks (60), second in opponent batting average (.232), third in team ERA (3.72), third in doubles allowed (22) and third in home runs allowed (9).
· Slippery Rock has limited its opponents to four runs or less 10 times and a 4.8 per game average overall entering the weekend.
· Slippery Rock's starting rotation in the Mercyhurst series consisted of Trueman,
Devin Dunn,
Joey Purcell and
Mark Wilbur.
· Through his first five starts of 2023, Dunn is 2-1 with both of his wins coming by way of complete-game shutouts, to go with 25 strikeouts, a .180 opponent batting average, just eight walks and a 2.81 ERA in 25.2 innings pitched. He ranks second in the PSAC in opponent batting average and second in hits allowed (16) among qualified pitchers.
· Trueman was great for The Rock in their 20-inning game against Mercyhurst as the senior gave up just one run over nine innings pitched. In a team-high 35.1 innings pitched this season, Trueman has surrendered just seven runs while going 3-1 with a 1.78 ERA and 36 strikeouts and only seven walks as well as a .226 opponent batting average.
· Trueman, who ranks ninth in the PSAC in total strikeouts, has registered at least eight strikeouts in three consecutive starts.
· Purcell (0-2) and Wilbur (1-0) are both in their first seasons as members of The Rock's weekend rotation. Purcell has made five starts, pitching 26 innings with a 3.46 ERA. Only two of his 28 hits allowed this year have gone for extra bases.
· Due to how Slippery Rock's schedule has lined up so far this season, Wilbur has only had the chance to make two starts, but has came out of SRU's bullpen in three games. All told, Wilbur is 1-0 with one save and a 2.53 ERA in 10.2 innings pitched.
· Leading SRU's relievers are the trio of
Tanner Esposito (1-2, 4.24 ERA, 17 IP),
Robert Herr (2-0, 0.77 ERA, 11.2 IP) and
Gino Marra (0-1, 6.17 ERA, 11.2 IP). The three have allowed just five of their 17 combined inherited runners to score.
· Marra has allowed just one earned run in his last three appearances, opponents are only hitting.098 off Herr and Esposito did not give up a run in two appearance – 5.1 innings – during the Mercyhurst series.
THE ROCK OFFENSE
· In 18 games this season, Slippery Rock has scored 8.3 runs per game, while hitting .277 and ranking first in the conference in triples (9) and fifth in doubles (45). SRU has scored at least seven runs in nine of its last 14 games.
· The duo of shortstop
Jon Kozarian and Robenolt have driven in nearly a third of SRU's runs this season with 25 and 20 RBI, respectively. Both seniors have also slugged four home runs with Kozarian carrying a .304 batting average as well as a team-best 24 runs scored and Robenolt hitting .274 with 16 runs.
·
Noah Ross, who has hits in 11 of his 13 games played this season, brings a .432 batting average and .537 on-base percentage into the IUP series to go with 17 runs and nine RBI.
· Much like Ross, second baseman
Koby Bubash has done a masterful job of getting on base this season by any means necessary with 18 hits, 13 walks and 10 HBP, resulting in a .494 OBP and .310 batting average. Bubash has also scored 19 runs and driven in 11.
· Just as valuable to SRU at the plate as he is on the mound, Trueman hits .380 with two home runs, 11 RBI and eight doubles when serving as a corner outfielder for SRU. His second home run of the year was the go-ahead shot in SRU's extra-inning victory at Mercyhurst.
· In addition to being one of three Rock hitters, along with Bubash and Purcell, to compile double-digit walk totals this year, centerfielder
Joseph Ehland also hits .322 with 17 runs, one home run and 13 RBI. Ehland has accounted for a PSAC-best four triples this year.
· Senior
Colin Cain has made 15 starts at third base this year, batting .269 with six runs, one home run and 11 RBI.
· When not pitching, Purcell is Slippery Rock's starting first baseman and leadoff man in the batting order with 14 runs scored and a .375 on-base percentage.
·
Cam Panyko Morris has solidified himself as Slippery Rock's fourth outfielder. In nine games this year, he's hitting .333 with eight runs, one home run and nine RBI to go with seven walks.
· Six of the 10 Rock athletes to record at least 10 at-bats with runners in scoring position are hitting at least .350 in that situation.
SRU with RISP Leaders
.500 - Ross (7-14)
.474 - Ehland (9-19)
.429 - Kozarian (9-21)
.400 - Panyko Morris (4-10)
.375 - Trueman (6-16)
.357 - Cain (5-14)
CAREER RECORDS WATCH
Hits (No. 13-16)
13.
Billy Messer (2007-10): 197
14. Joe Neidrick (2001-03): 193
15. Frankie Jezioro (2016-19): 186
16: Jon Kozarian: 175
Doubles (No. 5-9)
5. Bill Herman (2006-09): 51
6. Derek DiRuscia (2008-11): 46
t7.
Billy Messer (2007-10): 43
t7. Matt Kuzusko(2002-05): 43
9. Jon Kozarian: 42
Home Runs (No. 13-16)
t13: Three players: 18
t16. Alex Bell (2014-16): 17
t16. Chase Rowe (2003-05): 17
t16: Jon Kozarian: 17
t16: Alex Robenolt: 17
Runs Scored (No. 8-11)
8. Phil Butch (2004-07): 148
9. Shawn Primavere (1991-93): 143
10. Matt Kuzusko (2002-05): 140
t11. Jon Kozarian: 133
t11. Matt Adams (2007-09): 133
RBI (No. 11-13)
11. Bill Herman (2006-09): 115
12. Matt Kuzusko(2002-05): 114
t13. Alex Bell (2014-16): 113
t13. Jon Kozarian: 113
Strikeouts
1. Alex Pantuso (2015-18): 267
2. Lou Trivino (2011-13): 217
3. Nate Thimons (1996-99): 193
4. Mark Dolan (1996-99): 190
5. Luke Trueman: 178
Innings Pitched (No. 13-16)
13. Jon Anderson (2013-16): 181.1
14. Pat Keryan (1987-90): 181.0
15. Steve Urda (1994-97): 177.1
t16. Luke Trueman: 175.2
t16. Brian Robinson (1988-91): 175.2
INDIAN (PA) PRIMER
Overall Record: 9-13
PSAC West Record: 3-1
PSAC West Standings: t-2nd
NCBWA Regional Ranking: N/A
Home Record: 4-2
Away Record: 5-11
Streak: W1
Last Five Games: 3-2
Head Coach: Steve Kline | Second season (36-35 / .507)
LAST TIME OUT
IUP split a non-conference doubleheader against Kutztown on Tuesday with a 10-3 loss in game one followed by a 9-2 win in game two.
SCOUTING THE CRIMSON HAWKS
Indiana, which opened the PSAC West portion of its schedule by winning three of four games against Clarion prior to its midweek set versus Kutztown, enters the weekend averaging 6.1 runs per game on a .294 team batting average.
The Crimson Hawks pitching staff allows 6.5 runs per game with a team ERA of 5.92 and .302 opponent batting average.
TOP INDIANA HITTERS
Harrison Pontoli: .368 AVG (28-76) – 15 Runs – 3 HR - 22 RBI - .485 OBP
Au'sean Owens: .329 AVG (23-70) – 21 Runs – 2 HR - 10 RBI – 9 SB - .440 OBP
Elijah Dunn: .309 AVG (17-55) – 10 Runs – 3 HR - 13 RBI - .424 OBP
Andrew Sicinski: .313 AVG (21-67) – 7 Runs – 1 HR - 17 RBI - .378 OBP
TOP INDIANA PITCHERS
Mark Edeburn: 3-0 – 30 IP – 5.40 ERA – 15 K / 9 BB - .293 OBA
Derrick Shields: 1-1 – 22.2 IP – 4.37 ERA – 15 K / 4 BB - .340 OBA
Jeremiah Williams: 0-3 – 18.2 IP – 4.34 ERA – 16 K / 4 BB - .316 OBA
Jimmy Tooley: 1-3 – 16.2 IP – 9.18 ERA – 14 K / 11 BB - .314 OBA
Paul Tripi: 2-0 – 15.1 IP – 2.35 ERA – 9 K / 5 BB - .154 OBA
IUP RECENT RESULTS
March 28 – at Kutztown – W, 9-2
March 28 – at Kutztown – L, 10-2
March 26 – vs. Clarion – L, 8-6
March 26 – vs. Clarion – W, 7-0
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock hosts the University of Ashland for a single nine-inning non-conference game 3 p.m. April 4 at Jack Critchfield Park.
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).
