SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University baseball team will play a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday at Mansfield University with first pitch of game one set for 1 p.m.

DOUBLEHEADER DETAILS
Opponent: Mansfield
Date: Tuesday – 1 p.m. / 3 p.m.
Location: Joseph Shaute Field – Mansfield, Pennsylvania
Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: SRU leads 29-26-1
Last Played: April 11, 2023 (Split DH)
 
FAMILIAR FACES
Tuesday's doubleheader are the third and fourth games between The Rock and Mounties in the last week – SRU and Mansfield split a doubleheader April 11 at Critchfield Park with Slippery Rock taking the opener, 5-4, followed by Mansfield avoiding the sweep with an 8-5 win in game two.
 
SLIPPERY ROCK – MANSFIELD: ROUND 1
In the first series of the year between Slippery Rock and Mansfield, The Rock's bats were led by the trio of Luke Trueman, Joseph Ehland and Joey Purcell. All three had hits in both ends of the doubleheader.
 
Trueman went 5-for-7 with three runs scored, two home runs, three RBI and two doubles over the doubleheader. Ehland also had a productive afternoon, going 3-for-7 with one run, three RBI, a home run and one stolen base. Purcell rounded out the group with two hits, one of which was a double, as well as scoring three times.
 
Slippery Rock utilized five pitchers against Mansfield. Robert Herr (4.1 IP, 2 Runs, 3 Strikeouts) and Mark Wilbur (4.1 IP, 5 Runs, 5 Strikeouts) served as SRU's starters while relievers Eoin Rossman (2.2 IP, 2 Runs, 5 Strikeouts), Parker Hogge (2.2 IP, 1 Run, 6 Strikeouts) and Gino Marra (2 Runs) all took to mound at various points in the games as well.
 
Zachary Shertzer was Mansfield's top hitter a week ago as he was 5-for-8 with three runs and five RBI.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES
The split earlier this season between Slippery Rock and Mansfield pushed SRU's all-time record against MU to 29-26-1. Tuesday's games will mark the first time that Slippery Rock has played at Mansfield since 2013.
 
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
Stats: Link
Roster: Link
Overall Record: 16-17
PSAC West Record: 4-12
PSAC West Standings: 7th
Home Record: 10-8
Away Record: 6-9
Streak: L2
Last Five Games: 1-4
Head Coach: Jeff Messer | 38th season (1,088-713-5 / .605)

SCOUTING THE ROCK
Last Time Out: Slippery Rock played Gannon in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division series in which the Golden Knights were able to take three of four games from The Rock.
 
• Slippery Rock has excelled in non-conference games this season with a 12-5 record outside of the PSAC West.
 
• SRU has played seven non-conference games away from Jack Critchfield Park so far in 2023. The Rock opened the year by splitting a four-game set at Shippensburg University in addition to winning two of three games at West Virginia State University.
 
• Luke Trueman is enjoying a career-year both on the mound and at the plate. Over 24 starts in the outfield, he is hitting .379 with 17 runs scored, seven home runs and 20 RBI to go with 12 doubles, a .402 on-base percentage and a .759 slugging percentage.
 
• Trueman has been nearly impossible to get out of late as SRU's home run leader is batting .611 (11-for-18) with eight runs, four home runs and seven RBI over his last seven games.
 
• Joseph Ehland, who has hit safely in nine of The Rock's last 10 games, has joined Trueman as a bright spot in the lineup. SRU's primary centerfielder has collected 13 hits over the 10-game stretch. On the year, Ehland bats .327 with 22 runs, two home runs, 18 RBI, six stolen bases and a .415 on-base percentage.
 
• Ehland has 13 extra-base hits this year (six doubles, five triples, two home runs), which is tied for second on the team alongside fellow outfielder Alex Robenolt.
 
• Designated hitter Noah Ross continues to be one of SRU's most consistent hitters on the year as he leads SRU in on-base percentage (.453) in addition to his .378 batting average being just one point behind Trueman for team-high honors all the while scoring 22 runs with one home run and 12 RBI.  
 
• After going hitless last week against Mansfield, second baseman Koby Bubash returned to form when he registered five hits in three games versus Gannon. Bubash, who's .424 on-base percentage is the second highest of any Rock athlete, has totaled 18 RBI and 22 runs scored so far this season.
 
• Shortstop Jon Kozarian returned to The Rock's lineup at Gannon. The senior will enter the Mansfield contests as SRU's leader in both runs scored (25) and RBI (28) to go with four home runs and four stolen bases.
 
• Robenolt, who has started 132 straight games, is set to pass former Rock great Will Kengor (133) for fourth place in program history for consecutive starts. The only Rock player to start all 33 games this season, Robenolt has hit four home runs with 25 RBI and 22 runs scored over the course of the season to date.  
 
• The trio of Joey Purcell (.359 OBP, 21 runs, 5 RBI), Colin Cain (1 HR, 6 runs, 13 RBI) and Braden Olson (.271, 11 runs, 5 doubles, 7 RBI) have all seem time at third base of late with Cain and Purcell also splitting first base duties.
 
• In addition to his defense behind the plate, catcher Robby Barrientos has also reached base in 10 straight games.  
 
• Robert Herr has made 12 pitching appearances this year, going 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA and a .145 opponent batting average and 20 strikeouts over 19 innings.
 
• Jake Norris has been charged with just three earned runs in his last seven appearances (9.1 innings). He is 3-1 overall with 11 strikeouts in 12.1 innings out of the bullpen this year.
 
• Other Rock pitchers to have made appearances in non-conference games this season include Mark Wilbur (1-2, 1 Save, 16.1 IP, 15 strikeouts), Parker Hogge (15.2 IP, 18 strikeouts), Gino Marra (13.2 IP, 12 strikeouts, 2 walks), Michael Kitko (5.1 IP, 8 strikeouts, .200 OBA) and Eoin Rossman (1-0, 4.2 IP, 6 strikeouts).
 
MANSFIELD PRIMER
Stats: Link
Roster: Link
Overall Record: 10-22
PSAC East Record: 1-14
PSAC West Standings: 9th
Home Record: 1-6
Away Record: 7-14
Neutral Site Record: 2-2
Streak: L1
Last Five Games: 2-3
Head Coach: Andrew Chalot | 4th season (48-80 / .375)
 
LAST TIME OUT
Mansfield lost two of three games Kutztown University in a three-game Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division series.
 
TOP MANSFIELD HITTERS
Zachary Shertzer: .322 AVG (37-115) – 25 Runs – 24 RBI - 11 SB - .424 OBP
Jacob Houtz: .299 AVG (32-107) – 23 Runs – 3 HR - 25 RBI - .414 OBP
Brittain Shander: .300 AVG (33-110) – 19 Runs – 14 RBI - 12 SB - .398 OBP
Marcus Nales: .269 AVG (25-93) – 15 Runs – 1 HR - 11 RBI - .355 OBP
 
MU's RECENT RESULTS
April 15 – vs. Kutztown – L, 14-13
April 15 – vs. Kutztown – W, 8-3
April 14 – at Kutztown – L, 2-1
April 11 – at Slippery Rock – W, 8-5
April 11 – at Slippery Rock – L, 5-4
 
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock returns to PSAC West competition with a four-game series against division leader Seton Hill University. The Rock and Griffins play two games Friday at Seton Hill before coming to Critchfield Park for a Saturday doubleheader.