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 vs. Pitt-Johnstown
The Rock (22-26)	Mountain Cats (17-30)
Roster	Roster
Schedule	Schedule
Statistics	Statistics
Coach Jeff Messer	Coach: Todd Williams
Program Records	Program Records
PSAC Standings
PSAC Leaders
PSAC Schedule
Jack Critchfield Park

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University baseball team will close out its 2023 season with five games over the next three days.
 
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
Slippery Rock opens the week with a single nine-inning non-conference game at Critchfield Park 4 p.m. Wednesday against Walsh University before opening its final Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division series of the season with a doubleheader Thursday at Pitt-Johnstown.
 
The Rock and Mountain Cats will then return to SRU to play a doubleheader Friday. First pitch of game one on both days of the UPJ series is slated for 1 p.m.
 
SENIOR DAY FRIDAY
Prior to game one of Friday's doubleheader against Pitt-Johnstown, Slippery Rock will recognize its 2023 senior class of Colin Cain, Devin Dunn, Tanner Esposito, Evan Knaus, Jon Kozarian, Alex Robenolt and Luke Trueman for all of their contributions to the program over their careers in a pre-game ceremony.
 
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
• Weather permitting, fans can watch Slippery Rock's home games on Wednesday and Friday 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.
 
WALSH GAME DETAILS
Opponent: Walsh University
Date: Wednesday – 4 p.m.
Location: Critchfield Park – Slippery Rock
Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: SRU leads 9-7
Last Played: May 2, 2022 (WU Won 8-7)
 
ALL-TIME SERIES
Slippery Rock is 9-7 against Walsh in a series that dates back to 1993. A year ago, Walsh took two of three games from The Rock as the two teams split a doubleheader at Critchfield Park followed by the Cavaliers earning a one-run win over SRU in North Canton, Ohio on May 2.
 
Leading SRU in The Rock's three games against Walsh a year ago were Alex Robenolt (4-for-10, three runs, one RBI, two walks), Joseph Ehland (4-for-8, two runs), Koby Bubash (4-for-7, three runs, one RBI) and Jon Kozarian (six RBI, one home run, one double, two walks).
 
PITT-JOHNSTOWN SERIES DETAILS
Opponent: Pitt-Johnstown
In-game Updates: Twitter (@Rock_Athletics)
Games 1-2: Thursday (1 p.m. / 3 p.m.) – Point Stadium
Live Stats: Link
Games 3-4: Friday (1 p.m. / 3 p.m.) – Critchfield Park
Live Stats: Link
Video: Link
All-Time Series: SRU leads 53-28
Last Played: April 30, 2022 (Split DH)

ALL-TIME SERIES
Slippery Rock is 53-28 against Pitt-Johnstown since the first meeting between The Rock and Mountain Cats in 1974. SRU and UPJ have split their four-game series in each of the last two seasons.
 
Top Rock Performers vs. UPJ
Luke Trueman: 8 Games, .440 AVG (11-25), 5 Runs, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 3 2B
Alex Robenolt: 8 Games, .400 AVG (12-30), 7 Runs, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 3 SB
Colin Cain: 5 Games, .417 AVG (5-12), 1 Run, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 3 BB
Koby Bubash: 6 Games, .368 AVG (7-19), 2 Runs, 4 RBI, 3 2B
 
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
Roster: Link
Stats: Link
Overall Record: 22-23
PSAC West Record: 7-17
PSAC West Standings: 7th
Home Record: 12-11
Away Record: 10-12
Streak: W3
Last Five Games: 4-1
Head Coach: Jeff Messer | 38th season (1,094-719-5 / .603)

LAST TIME OUT
Slippery Rock recorded a doubleheader sweep of Clarion with a pair of 8-0 and 8-2 wins April 29 to finish off a PSAC West series in which The Rock too three of four games from the Golden Knights.
 
WINNING RECORD WITHIN REACH
Slippery Rock's strong play as of late has put itself in a great position to finish 2023 with a winning record.
 
With five games remaining in the regular season, SRU enters the week at 22-23. If The Rock were to go 4-1 or 5-0 over the final week they will secure the program's 34th season with an above .500 winning percentage over the 38-year career of head coach Jeff Messer.
 
A LOOK AT THE SENIOR CLASS
• Colin Cain – Since coming to SRU as a freshman in 2019, Cain has played in 105 games while making 83 starts. He is a career .287 hitter with 37 runs scored, seven home runs and 49 RBI at SRU. Cain was an All-PSAC West first baseman as a freshman in 2019.
 
• Devin Dunn – Dunn joined The Rock prior to last season as a graduate transfer from Virginia Commonwealth University. He played an instrumental role in leading The Rock to a 2022 NCAA Tournament appearance as he anchored the pitching staff with a 9-2 record that included a 2.80 ERA and 77 strikeouts with a .231 opponent batting average over 70.2 innings on the way to earning All-PSAC West and all-region accolades from the NCBWA, D2CCA and ABCA.
 
• Tanner Esposito – After spending his freshman season in 2019 at University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Esposito came to SRU and has since pitched in 20 games while tallying three wins and 45 strikeouts.
 
• Evan Knaus – Since coming to Slippery Rock as a transfer from Eastern Gateway Community College prior to the 2021 season, Knaus has played all over the field for SRU with 56 appearances and 40 starts. Over his career he has hit six home runs with 27 RBI.
 
• Jon Kozarian – A 2021 All-American, Kozarian has been a mainstay in The Rock's lineup over his entire career. After redshirting during the 2018 season, Kozarian has gone on to start 178 games over his Rock career.
 
He ranks among SRU's all-time best in numerous statistical categories. Entering Wednesday, Kozarian sits eighth in program history in doubles (43), ninth in runs scored (144), 11th in RBI (117), 11th in starts (178), 11th in games played (178), 12th in walks (75), 15th in hits (187) and 15th in home runs (18).
 
• Alex Robenolt – Since his freshman year in 2019, Robenolt has appeared in 163 games with 153 starts including an active streak of 144 consecutively. A two-time All-PSAC West selection and one-time consensus all-region choice, Robenolt is a lifetime .336 hitter who has collected 19 home runs, with 99 runs scored and 107 RBI. He enters the final week of his college career ranked sixth in program history in doubles, 13th in home runs, 17th in hits and 18th in RBI.
 
• Luke Trueman – Highlighted by a dominant senior season, Trueman will leave Slippery Rock as one of the top two-way players in program history. In addition to hitting .328 with 95 runs, 23 home runs, 95 RBI and 38 doubles at the plate over 176 games, Trueman has also totaled 16 wins on the mound with a 3.86 career ERA and 207 strikeouts in 209.2 innings pitched.
 
Trueman currently ranks third in SRU history in career strikeouts, sixth in innings pitched, 10th in home runs, 12th in wins, 14th in doubles and 15th in games played.
 
THE ROCK PITCHING STAFF
• Through 45 games, Slippery Rock's pitching staff has allowed 4.7 runs per game. Opponents hit .259 against an SRU group that has a 4.56 ERA and averages seven strikeouts a contest.
 
• Slippery Rock ranks fifth in the PSAC in team ERA, opponent batting average and total strikeouts.
 
• Trueman and Joey Purcell have been constants in The Rock's starting rotation this season as both athletes have started 10 games.
 
• Trueman has gone 6-3 with a 2.08 ERA, 65 strikeouts and a .230 opponent batting average over 69.1 innings. He has pitched into the sixth inning in nine of his 10 starts this year and has given up more than three runs in a start just once. Trueman is fourth in the PSAC in strikeouts and fifth in ERA among qualified starters. 
 
• In his first season in the rotation, Purcell (1-6) has pitched 52 innings, including two complete games, to go with 45 strikeouts.
 
• Freshmen Nate Malak and Parker Hogge have joined Trueman and Purcell in SRU's weekend rotation as of late. Both Malak and Hogge carry identical 1-2 records with Malak posting 19 strikeouts in 23 innings while Hogge has a 4.55 ERA and .252 opponent batting average in 27.2 innings.
 
• In addition to Malak, Hogge and Purcell – a sophomore – SRU has also relied heavily on the underclassmen collection of Robert Herr (3-1, 3.95 ERA, 23 K, .231 OBA, 27.1 IP), Mark Wilbur (1-2, 2 Saves, 20 K, 23.2 IP), Eoin Rossman (2-0, 4.96 ERA, 16 K, .250 OBA, 16.1 IP) and Michael Kitko (1-0, 2.45 ERA, 18 K, .128 OBA, 11 IP) in what has been a youth movement for The Rock's pitching staff.
 
THE ROCK HITTERS
• Slippery Rock's offense, which averages 5.8 runs per game, has been led by Trueman. Over 36 starts in right field, Trueman has hit .382 with 25 runs, 10 home runs and 33 RBI. He leads the PSAC West in both home runs and slugging percentage while ranking second in doubles (15) and third in batting average.
 
• Noah Ross is finishing off what has been a career-year for SRU's backup catcher and designated hitter. Over 36 starts, Ross is batting .310 with one home run and 15 RBI.
 
• Second baseman Koby Bubash has started 43 games and is the team leader in on-base percentage at .409 to go with 26 runs, one home run and 22 RBI. 40 percent of Bubash's hits this year have gone for extra bases (13 doubles, three triples, one home run).
 
• Robenolt, SRU's everyday left fielder, has increased his batting average over 30 points during the last two weeks to start the final stretch of his career at .292 to go with a 28 runs, six home runs and 28 RBI.   
 
• Centerfielder Joseph Ehland shares team-high accolades in runs scored with Robenolt all the while stealing nine bases, belting four home runs and driving in 26 runs. Additionally, Ehland has been responsible for seven doubles and a Rock-best five triples all the while hitting .359 (14-39) with runners in scoring position.
 
• Purcell, who serves as Slippery Rock's first baseman when not starting on the mound, has registered a .388 on-base percentage courtesy of 20 walks, 31 hits and one hit batter.
 
• Kozarian has battled through injuries to start 38 games at shortstop, hitting five home runs with 29 RBI and a Rock-high 35 runs scored.
 
• Cain and Braden Olson have formed a platoon at third base. The pair has combined to produce 43 hits, 24 runs, one home runs and 26 RBI with Olson also possessing a .366 on-bae percentage.
 
STREAKING
• Trueman will bring a team-high nine-game hitting streak into Wednesday's game. Robenolt is close behind with a seven-game streak of his own.
 
• Robenolt is 13-for-29 (.448) with five runs and two RBI over his hitting streak.
 
• In his last six starts, Cam Panyko Morris has hit .375 (6-for-16) with three runs, one home run and six RBI.
 
• Jake Norris has not allowed an earned run in his last three relief appearances (3.2 innings). Fellow reliever Michael Kitko has pitched 5.2 innings without allowing a run.
 
• Kozarian has four hits and four runs scored in his last nine at-bats.
 
• Trueman was dominant in the Clarion series. In addition to throwing a five-hit complete-game shutout, he also collected seven hits in 15 at-bats (.466) in the series with four runs, one home run and seven RBI.

THIS AND THAT
• Slippery Rock is 18-2 when leading after four innings this season, but just 1-16 when trailing following four innings of play.
 
• SRU is 18-8 when scoring first.
 
• Nine of The Rock's 23 losses have come by two runs or less.
 
NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS
Slippery Rock has been great in non-conference games with a 15-6 record when playing outside of the PSAC West.
 
SRU Record vs. Non-Conference Games
Alliance: 3-0
Mansfield: 3-1
West Virginia State: 2-1
Wilmington: 2-1
Shepherd: 2-2
Ashland: 1-1
Frostburg State: 1-0
West Liberty: 1-0
 
SRU AT THE JACK
Since its opening during the 2002 season, Slippery Rock is an impressive 241-138 (.636) 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 51-25 (.671) over the last three years.
 
WALSH PRIMER
Roster: Link
Stats: Link
Overall Record: 22-21
Home Record: 9-4
Away Record: 10-14
Neutral Site Record: 3-3
Streak: L3
Last Five Games: 1-4
Head Coach: Tim Mead | 40th season (907-918-7 / .497)
 
TOP WALSH HITTERS
Cam Hollobaugh: .372 (51-137) – 33 Runs – 6 HR – 34 RBI - .454 OBP
Jax Miller: .322 (49-152) – 32 Runs – 6 HR – 28 RBI - .400 OBP
Matt McGrath: .298 (48-161) – 30 Runs – 8 HR – 25 RBI - .352 OBP
Benny Hymes IV: .272 AVG (37-136) – 28 Runs – 9 HR – 22 RBI - .389 OB

WU'S RECENT RESULTS
April 26 – at Lake Erie – L, 9-8
April 29 – at Northwood – W, 7-3
April 29 – at Northwood – L, 6-3
April 30 – at Northwood – L, 19-5
April 30 – at Northwood – L, 21-7
 
PITT-JOHNSTOWN PRIMER
Roster: Link
Stats: Link
Overall Record: 15-30
PSAC West Record: 8-16
PSAC West Standings: 6th
Home Record: 5-14
Away Record: 10-14
Neutral Site Record: 0-2
Streak: L2
Last Five Games: 1-4
Head Coach: Todd Williams | 26th season (564-572-5 / .496)
 
TOP UPJ HITTERS
Jake Ansell: .378 (45-119) – 24 Runs – 1 HR – 18 RBI - .429 OBP
Dylan Broderick: .345 (48-139) – 37 Runs – 6 HR – 31 RBI - .492 OBP
Josh Ulery: .315 (39-124) – 23 Runs – 2 HR – 17 RBI - .384 OBP
Asher Corl: .267 (23-86) – 16 Runs – 4 HR – 26 RBI - .412 OBP
 
TOP UPJ PITCHERS
Ben Briggs: 3-5 – 6.49 ERA – 52.2 IP – 36 K / 16 BB - .323 OBA
Rodney Shultz: 6-2 – 4.28 ERA – 54.2 IP – 40 K / 22 BB - .275 OBA
Austin Hammerle: 0-3 – 7.41 ERA – 17.0 IP – 13 K / 9 BB - .356 OBA
Seth Shuey: 1-5 – 6.45 ERA – 37.2 IP – 23 K / 7 BB - .320 OBA
Ben Tomb: 2-4 – 6.62 ERA – 34 IP – 38 K / 24 BB - .293 OBA
 
UPJ'S RECENT RESULTS
April 21 – at Indiana – L, 11-3
April 29 – vs. California – L, 3-0
April 29 – vs. California – W, 3-0
April 30 – at California – L, 10-2
April 30 – at California – L, 5-1



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