GAME PROGRAM INFO
Slippery Rock has moved away from printed game programs for all sports in 2023-24. 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. California
The Rock (17-9, 8-4)	Vulcans (21-8,, 8-4)
Roster	Roster
Schedule	Schedule
Statistics	Statistics
Coach Jeff Messer	Coach Mike Conte
Program Records	Program Records
PSAC Standings
PSAC Leaders
PSAC Schedule
Jack Critchfield Park

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. The Slippery Rock University baseball team and California (Pa.) will play a four-game series this weekend, in a meeting between two of the four teams currently tied for first place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division standings.
 
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
This weekend's series is currently scheduled to open with a doubleheader Saturday at Wild Things Park in Washington, Pennsylvania before a doubleheader Sunday at Critchfield Park. 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 Friday'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.

STANDINGS CHECK
Through three completed weekend series (12 of 28 games), the PSAC West standings is top heavy with four teams - Slippery Rock, California (Pa.), Seton Hill and Mercyhurst - tied for first place at 8-4.
 
Indiana (Pa.) enters the weekend fifth in the conference standings at 7-5 followed by Pitt-Johnstown (4-8), Gannon (3-9) and Clarion (2-10).
 
With 16 league games still to be played in 2024 there is still plenty of time for teams to work their way up or down the conference standings, but Slippery Rock has done enough early on to put itself firmly in the mix for one of the four available conference tournament berths for PSAC West teams.
 
Key series in the Western Division this weekend include The Rock vs. California and Seton Hill vs. IUP.
 
The top four teams in both the PSAC West and PSAC East standings at the end of the regular season qualify for the conference tournament, which will be held May 8-11 at Critchfield Park.
 
SERIES DETAILS
Opponent: California (Pa.)
In-game Updates: Twitter/X (@Rock_Athletics)
Games 1-2: Saturday – 1 p.m. / 3 p.m.
Location: Wild Things Park – Washington, Pennsylvania
Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
Games 3-4: Sunday – 1 p.m. / 3 p.m.
Location: Critchfield Park
Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
All-Time Series: SRU leads 116-84
Last Played: April 8, 2023 (Split DH)
 
SERIES HISTORY
The Rock and Vulcans have played baseball against each other as far back as 1968. Over that time, Slippery Rock has amassed a quality 116-84 record in the series. A year ago, Cal took three of four games from SRU with a sweep at Wild Things Park and a doubleheader split at Critchfield Park.
 
Top Rock Performers vs. Cal.
Eddie Morris: 6 Games - .471 (8-17), 3 Runs, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2 2B
Robby Barrientos: 3 Games - .429 (3-7), 2 Runs, 1 HR, 1 RBI
Noah Ross: 4 Games - .364 (4-11)
Nate Malak: 1 Game – 4 IP, 1 Run, 3 K / 1 BB, .200 OBA
Parker Hogge: 1 Game – 2.2 IP, 0 Runs, 1 K / 3 BB, .111 OBA
 
LAST TIME OUT
Slippery Rock split a midweek doubleheader Tuesday against Mansfield while California beat Wheeling 11-1 on Wednesday.
 

TALE OF THE TAPE
STAT	ROCK	CAL
Runs*	4.5	6.3
Runs Allowed*	3.6	3.8
Hits*	7.7	9.5
Hits Allowed*	6.6	8.0
Team Batting Average	.266	.307
Opp. Batting Average	.231	.262
Team OB%	.354	.406
Opp. OB%	.329	.328
Team ERA	3.35	3.36
Opp. ERA	4.88	6.44
* per game stats

 
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
Overall Record: 17-9
PSAC West Record: 8-4
PSAC West Standings: t-1st
NCBWA Regional Ranking: 8th
Home Record: 9-7
Away Record: 5-1
Neutral Site Record: 3-1
Streak: W1
Last Five Games: 3-2
Head Coach: Jeff Messer | 39th season (1,112-732-5 / .603)
 
SRU'S RECENT RESULTS
April 6 – IUP – W, 9-2
April 7 – IUP – W, 3-2 (8 Inn.)
April 7 – IUP – L, 5-1
April 9 – Mansfield – L, 5-1
April 9 – Mansfield – W, 13-5

GILLOTT TOPS D2 IN ERA
Slippery Rock staff ace Gage Gillott will bring the best ERA in Division II into his start this weekend. With just four earned runs allowed in 43.2 innings pitched, Gillott's ERA is currently a scant 0.82.
 
In addition to being the best ERA in Division II, Gillott also has the third lowest ERA throughout the entire NCAA regardless of division (I, II, III).
 
Best ERA in NCAA
1. Jackson Teer – Trinity (0.69 – 39.1 IP – 3 ER)
2. Sayers Collins – East Texas Baptist (0.81 – 44.1 IP – 4 ER)
3. Gage Gillott – Slippery Rock (0.82 – 43.2 IP – 4 ER)
4. Cody Myers – Centenary (0.85 – 52.2 IP – 5 ER)
5. Jamie Arnold – Florida State (0.94 – 47.2 IP – 5 ER)

DOMINANT PITCHING
The strength of this year's Slippery Rock team is no doubt its pitching staff which is shaping up to be one of the better groups at SRU in recent memory.
 
• Slippery Rock has held opponents to no more than four runs in 16 of its 26 games, including six shutouts. All told, opponents average just 3.6 runs per game when facing The Rock while hitting a mere .231.
 
• Through 26 games, SRU ranks fourth in the nation in team ERA (3.35), ninth in hits allowed per nine innings (7.73) and 15th in WHIP (1.32).
 
• The Rock are tied for the PSAC lead with East Stroudsburg in extra base hits allowed per game at 1.5.

BATS HEAT UP
• Slippery Rock enjoyed one of its best offensive outputs of the year in its 13-5 victory in game two of Tuesday's doubleheader against Mansfield.
 
• In addition to being a season-best, SRU's 13 runs in the win represented the program's highest output since a 17-4 victory over Wilmington a year ago on March 18, 2023 (63 games).
 
• The Rock also produced 14 hits versus the Mounties, six of which went for extra bases (4 doubles / 2 home runs.
 
• The game marked Slippery Rock's eighth double-digit hit total of the year and was the most hits in a single-game inside the program since going for 15 against Mansfield on April 18, 2023 (43 games).
 
• Slippery Rock travels to California averaging 4.5 runs per game with a collective slash line of .266 / .354 / .385.

ALWAYS ON BASE
No Slippery Rock athlete has been on base as of late more than second baseman Koby Bubash. Over the last eight games, Bubash has reached base 17 total times courtesy of nine hits, one walk and seven "HBPs".
 
The impressive run has upped the veteran infielder's on-base percentage to .408 – third on the team only behind Joey Purcell (.464) and Michael Kitko (.410).

THE ROCK ROTATION
• Gage Gillott and Joey Purcell have combined to form arguably the best 1-2 starting pitcher combination in the PSAC. SRU has earned wins in nine of the duo's 12 combined starts this season.
 
• Gillott has been nothing short of dominant in his seven starts. The reigning PSAC West Pitcher of the Week is 5-1 with a 0.82 ERA, .159 opponent batting average and 40 strikeouts over 43.2 innings pitched. He has logged four complete games, been a part of four total shutouts (three solo / one combined) and surrendered just 13 walks.
 
• In addition to his nation's best ERA, Gillott also ranks third in the PSAC in opponent batting average, fifth in hits allowed (24), fifth in wins and seventh in innings pitched.
 
• Purcell will make his next scheduled start carrying a 3-2 record with a 2.27 ERA and .173 opponent batting average through 35.2 innings. Purcell, who trails only Gillott on the team in strikeouts with (38) has walked just 10 batters this season.
 
• Purcell holds the nation's No. 32 ERA and is 15th in D2 in hits allowed per nine innings (5.55) while taking fifth among PSAC pitchers in both ERA and opponent batting average and being second among qualified pitchers in the conference in hits allowed (22)
 
• Joining Gillott and Purcell in last weekend's starting rotation against IUP were Nate Malak and Parker Hogge.
 
• Malak earned his first win of the season against Indiana. Over two starts this year, Malak has pitched seven innings with a 2.57 ERA and .160 opponent batting average. He has tallied six strikeouts and yieleded only three walks.
 
• Hogge has made eight total appearances on the mound in 2024, five of which have been starts, on the way to a 2-3 record and 27.2 innings of work. He brings a 3.58 ERA and a .252 opponent batting average.

THE ROCK LINEUP
• Slippery Rock's lineup has remained largely consistent this season with 10 athletes having started at least 15 games.
 
• The quartet of Kitko, Bubash, Purcell and centerfielder Cam Panyko Morris all enter the California series pacing SRU in run production.
 
• Kitko, a corner outfielder when in the field, is batting .361 with a .410 on-base percentage in addition to scoring 12 runs with two home runs and 19 RBI.
 
• Panyko Morris has hit a team-best four home runs while scoring 12 times and driving in 17 thanks in part to a .274 batting average, .507 slugging percentage and .337 on-base percentage.
 
• In addition to his previously mentioned uncanny ability to get on base, Bubash has also compiled 15 RBI on 23 hits while scoring 11 runs.
 
• Purcell – Slippery Rock's starting first baseman – heads into the weekend with 11 RBI all the while leading SRU in batting average (.373), slugging percentage (.525), on-base percentage (.464), runs scored (17), walks (9) and stolen bases (4).
 
• When not anchoring The Rock's pitching rotation, Gillott provides one of the best bats in SRU's lineup while patrolling a corner outfield spot. In 19 starts he has hit .353 with 13 runs and eight RBI. Gillott, who is tied for the team lead in stolen bases, slugs .515 thanks to five doubles and three triples with a .389 on-base percentage.
 
• Freshman third baseman Brandon Butler has been on a hot streak as of late which has propelled him to a .283 batting average and a .337 on-base percentage alongside five runs and nine RBI.
 
• Veteran Eddie Morris is tied for the team lead in starts with 21 (15 in RF / 6 at DH). Exactly half of Morris' hits in 2024 have been of the extra base variety (5 doubles / 2 triples / 1 HR). He is also fifth on the team in OBP at .365.
 
• One of the top defensive catchers in the PSAC, Robby Barrientos has also turned four of his 11 hits on the season into extra-base knocks (4 doubles / 1 triple).
 
• The Rock's designated hitter in 15 games, Noah Ross begins the California series tied with Morris and Barrientos with six RBI each.
 
• Shortstop Braden Olson appears to have turned a corner at the plate with six hits and five walks in the last four games.
 
BATTLE OF THE RANKED TEAMS
In addition to being a meeting of first-place teams in the PSAC West standings, this weekend's games will also feature two teams that are slotted among the region's best. In the latest NCBWA Atlantic Region rankings released Monday, California was sixth and The Rock was eighth.
 
NCBWA Atlantic Region Top-10 (4/8)
1. Millersville (29-5)
2. East Stroudsburg (28-3)
3. Charleston (24-7)
4. Seton Hill (21-9)
5. West Chester (20-5-1)
6. California (20-8)
7. Frostburg State (19-7)
8. Slippery Rock (17-9)
9. West Virginia State (17-11)
10. Salem (21-12)
 
HITTING WHEN IT MATTERS
Slippery Rock enters the California series with five players hitting at least .333 with runners in scoring position.
 
1. Michael Kitko (.448 / 13-29)
2. Joey Purcell (.417 / 10-24)
3. Koby Bubash (.389 / 7-18)
4. Brandon Butler (.333 / 6-18)
5. Cam Panyko Morris (.333 / 6-18)
 
WINNING THE CLOSE ONES
Slippery Rock opens the week 10-3 in games that have been decided by three runs or less.
 
GET A LEAD, KEEP A LEAD
SRU is 13-1 this season when leading after four innings.
 
ACTIVE STREAKS
Hitting (Top-5)
1. Koby Bubash (7)
2. Brandon Butler (6)
3. Braden Olson (4)
4. Joey Purcell (2)
5. 5 Tied (1)
 
Reached Base (Top-5)
1. Brandon Butler (9)
2. Koby Bubash (8)
3. Michael Kitko (7)
4. Cam Panyko Morris (5)
5. Braden Olson (4)

CALIFORNIA PRIMER
Overall Record: 21-8
PSAC West Record: 8-4
PSAC West Standings: t-1st
NCBWA Regional Ranking: 6th
Home Record: 13-4
Away Record: 6-3
Neutral Site Record: 2-1
Streak: W2
Last Five Games: 4-1
Head Coach: Mike Conte | 28th season (756-523-4 / .591)
 
CAL'S RECENT RESULTS
April 6 – Gannon – W, 8-7
April 7 – Gannon – W, 9-3
April 7 – Gannon – L, 3-2
April 9 – Frostburg State – W, 11-10
April 10 – Wheeling – W, 11-1
 
SCOUTING THE VULCANS
• The Vulcans have opened conference play by sweeping Clarion, splitting four games with Seton Hill and most recently another series split against Gannon.
 
• Much like The Rock, Cal has been impressive on the mound as the Vulcans allow only 3.8 runs per game on a .262 opponent batting average and 3.36 ERA.
 
• Led by Peyton Conte, the nation's leader in batting average (.492), California ranks fifth in the PSAC in run production at 6.3 per game.
 
TOP CAL PITCHERS
Jake Kramer: 2-0 – 7 Saves – 0.50 ERA – 18 IP – 16 K / 4 BB - .088 OBA
Michael Valente: 4-0 – 2.61 ERA – 41.1 IP – 20 K / 5 BB - .265 OBA
Nathan Holmes: 3-1 – 2.25 ERA – 28 IP – 23 K . 9 BB - .229 OBA
Sam Georgiana: 3-1 – 3.57 ERA – 22.2 IP – 13 K / 6 BB - .284 OBA
Beau Bigam: 1-1 – 6.06 ERA – 16.1 IP – 13 K / 11 BB - .318 OBA
 
TOP CAL HITTERS
Payton Conte: .492 (32-65) - 15 Runs – 3 HR - 18 RBI – .566 OBP
Ryan Callahan: .361 (39-108) – 23 Runs – 1 HR – 25 RBI - .437 OBP
Santino Marra: .337 (34-101) – 15 Runs – 2 HR – 22 RBI - .423 OBP
Caleb Collins: .338 (25-74) – 20 Runs – 1 HR – 15 RBI - .440 OBP
 
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock steps back out of PSAC West play to host Tiffin University for a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday at Critchfield Park. First pitch of game one is set for 1 p.m.





To stay up to date with all that happens at The Rock, follow our official athletic communication accounts on 'X' (formerly Twitter, @Rock_Athletics), Facebook (RockAthletics) and Instagram (RockAthletics).