SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University baseball team lost a non-conference game to Walsh University, 16-0, Wednesday at Jack Critchfield Park.
 
Following the defeat, Slippery Rock's record drops to 22-24 overall. SRU is still within striking distance of finishing the year with a winning record as there are still four games to played in the regular season. Walsh exits The Rock at 23-21 in 2023.
 
The Cavaliers earned the win by producing 15 hits while taking advantage of five walks and three batters being hit by a pitch on the way to their second highest run output of the season.
 
Walsh scored five runs over the opening two innings to build a sizable lead SRU could never comeback from as the Cavaliers closed out the win by adding 11 insurance runs over the following six innings while starting pitcher Chip Gottsch (1-1) effectily stifled SRU's hitters along they way before the game was stopped due to rain entering the eighth inning.
 
Slippery Rock was led on the day by the combination of Joey Purcell and Luke Trueman. Purcell went 2-for-2 with a walk while Trueman collected two doubles on a 2-for-3 showing at the plate to extend his hitting streak to 10 games.
 
Caelan Bender tallied SRU's final hit while Braden Olson and Cam Panyko Morris both reached base via walks.
 
Eoin Rossman (2-1) was the pitcher of record for Slippery Rock after giving up nine runs on seven hits and four walks to go with two strikeouts over 3.2 innings.
 
Slippery Rock used four relievers Wednesday in Robert Herr (1.1 IP, 1 run, 2 strikeouts), Tanner Esposito (1 IP, 2 runs, 1 strikeout), Adam Wibert (0.2 IP, 4 runs) and Gino Marra (0.1 IP, 0 runs, 1 strikeout).
 
Gottsch posted the complete-game shutout by working around The Rock's five hits as well as two walks and a pair of wild pitches. Brodey Acres went 2-for-3 with five RBI to pace the Walsh offensive attack.
 
Slippery Rock will close out its 2023 season with a four-game Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Wester Division series against Pitt-Johnstown.
 
The Rock and Mountain Cats open the series with two games Thursday in Johnstown, Pennsylvania before coming to Critchfield Park Friday for a final doubleheader. First pitch of game one on both days is set for 1 p.m.
 
 

 
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