SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Slippery Rock University baseball's Jon Kozarian hit a 10th-inning walk-off home run as part of The Rock's 3-2 victory over West Liberty Wednesday at Critchfield Park.
 
The dramatic non-conference win lifts SRU's record to 19-22 overall while the Hilltoppers exit Slippery Rock at 17-25 in 2023.
 
Wednesday's victory was a comeback win for Slippery Rock, which scored one run in the ninth inning to force its fourth extra-inning game of the season.
 
The 10th inning started with Rock reliver Michael Kitko continuing what was already a dominant outing by recording a pair of strikeouts and a groundout to set the stage for SRU to produce a game-winning run in the bottom of the frame.
 
With one out in the inning, Kozarian and West Liberty pitcher Trevor Thomas battled to a 2-2 count before Kozarian turned on the next pitch for a shot that landed over the left field wall, giving SRU its one-run victory.
 
Kozarian's home run, his fifth of the season, marked his second walk-off homer of the year. The senior shortstop also belted a game-winning blast in The Rock's 8-6 win against Frostburg State University on March 22. The clutch hit was also the third of three well-hit balls to left field by Kozarian Wednesday despite the first two ultimately resulting in flyouts.  
 
Kitko (1-0) earned the first win of his collegiate career in a great relief appearance in which the Houtzdale, Pennsylvania native pitched four shutout innings with just one hit allowed all the while throwing seven strikeouts.
 
Prior to Kitko's arrival on the mound, SRU starter Eoin Rossman also produced a solid outing by working around seven hits and one walk to allow just two runs over six innings pitched in addition to tossing seven strikeouts of his own.
 
Joining Kozarian as The Rock's top hitter on the day was Alex Robenolt, who went 3-for-4 with one home run. Robenolt has now racked up nine hits in Slippery Rock's last three games.
 
Luke Trueman and Koby Bubash had one hit apiece while Joey Purcell tallied the game-tying RBI with Noah Ross and Colin Cain each drawing one walk as well.
 
Slippery Rock grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the second inning thanks to Robenolt's solo home run, his sixth of the season, before West Liberty countered with runs in the third and sixth innings to take a one-run lead heading into the late stages of the contest.
 
Kitko would then come on in place of Rossman in the seventh and proceed to strikeout five of the first seven batters he faced to effectively shut down the Hilltopper offense.
 
Trailing by one run and down to their final half inning in regulation, Slippery Rock's comeback started with back-to-back singles by Robenolt and Trueman in the ninth. Following a sacrifice bunt by Bubash, WLU elected to intentionally walk Ross leading to a sacrifice fly by Purcell that forced extra innings and led to The Rock's eventual win.
 
Thomas (1-3) took the loss for West Liberty after giving up two runs on three hits over 1.1 innings. Starter Bryce Winter gave up one run in four innings before giving way to Brady Harmon, who pitched four shutout innings.
 
Zach Hawkins went 3-for-4 with one run for WLU.
 
Slippery Rock returns to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division competition with a four-game series against Clarion starting with a doubleheader Thursday at Jack Critchfield Park. Opening pitch of game one is set for 3 p.m.
 
 

 
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