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, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University baseball team will look to further solidify its positioning in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division standings with a successful four-game series this weekend against Gannon University.
 
SCHEDULE FORMAT
The Rock and Golden Knights will open the weekend series with a doubleheader Saturday at Critchfield Park before traveling to Erie, Pennsylvania for two games Sunday. 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 Saturday'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.

PSAC WEST STANDINGS CHECK
Heading into this weekend's games, Mercyhurst is in first place in the division standings with an 11-5 conference mark, but just one game ahead of The Rock (10-6), California (10-6) and Indiana (10-6) who are all in a three-way tie for second place.
 
Seton Hill also remains within striking distance in fifth place at 9-7 in league play. Clarion (6-10), Pitt-Johnstown (4-12) and Gannon (4-12) makeup the bottom half of the PSAC West standings.  
 
With 12 conference games remaining in the regular season, there are realistically five teams competing for the four available bids into the conference tournament out of the Western Division.
 
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.
 
The biggest series in the PSAC West this weekend features Indiana (Pa.) vs. California (Pa.).

SERIES DETAILS
Opponent: Gannon
In-game Updates: Twitter/X (@Rock_Athletics)
Games 1-2: Saturday – 1 p.m. / 3 p.m.
Location: Critchfield Park
Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
Games 3-4: Sunday – 1 p.m. / 3 p.m.
Location: McConnell Family Stadium
Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
All-Time Series: SRU leads 80-41
Last Played: April 16, 2023 (GU doubleheader sweep)

SERIES HISTORY
While The Rock holds a commanding 80-41 record against Gannon in the all-time series, the Golden Knights have gone 14-6 versus SRU dating back to the 2018 season. GU took three of four games from Slippery Rock a year ago following a split at Critchfield Park and a doubleheader sweep in Erie.
 
Top Rock Performers vs. GU
Koby Bubash: 7 Games - .450 (9-20) – 6 Runs – 1 HR – 4 RBI
Eddie Morris: 6 Games – .385 (5-13) – 3 Runs – 1 HR – 8 RBI – 5 BB
Noah Ross: 4 Games - .333 (4-12) – 3 Runs – 1 RBI
Braden Olson: 4 Games – .308 (4-13) – 2 Runs – 2 RBI – 2 BB
Cam Panyko Morris: 1 Game – 1.000 (1-1) – 2 RBI – 1 2B – 1 BB
Joey Purcell: 1-0 – 7 IP – 1.29 ERA – 5 K / 2 BB - .130 OBA
 
LAST TIME OUT
Slippery Rock cruised to a 6-1 midweek victory Tuesday over Tiffin while the Golden Knights split a league doubleheader Monday against Mercyhurst.  
 

SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
Overall Record: 20-11
PSAC West Record: 10-6
PSAC West Standings: t-2nd
NCBWA Regional Ranking: 8th
Home Record: 11-8
Away Record: 6-2
Neutral Site Record: 3-1
Streak: W2
Last Five Games: 3-2
Head Coach: Jeff Messer | 39th season (1,115-734-5 / .603)
 
SRU'S RECENT RESULTS
April 13 – California – L, 3-2
April 13  – California – W, 5-0
April 14 – California – L, 9-7
April 14 – California – W, 15-9
April 16 – Tiffin – W, 6-1

MALAK NAMED PSAC WEST PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Nate Malak was named the PSAC West Pitcher of the Week after throwing six innings and striking out a career-high seven batters in a combined one-hit 5-0 shutout against California (Pa.) last week. Malak is the third Rock athlete to earn PSAC West Pitcher of the Week honors this season.

ROCK REMAINS 8th IN REGION
In what is becoming a reoccurring trend, Slippery Rock was once again eighth in this week's National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Atlantic Region rankings.
 
NCBWA Atlantic Region Top-10 (4/15)
1. Millersville (31-7)
2. East Stroudsburg (30-6)
3. Charleston (28-7)
4. West Chester (27-5)
5. California (23-10)
6. Frostburg State (23-8)
7. Seton Hill (23-12)
8. Slippery Rock (19-11)
9. West Virginia State (21-13)
10. Indiana (Pa.) (19-10)

12 STRAIGHT FOR BUBASH
With a double in the second inning of The Rock's win over Tiffin earlier in the week, senior second baseman Koby Bubash extended his hitting streak to 12 games. Bubash's hitting streak is tied for the longest this season by a Rock batter and represents the fifth longest hitting streak at SRU in the last seven years.
 
The longest documented hitting streak in program history belongs to Adam Urbania, who hit safely in 34 consecutive games during the 2015 season.
 
Longest Hitting Streak at SRU (Last 7 Years)
1. Frankie Jezioro – 18 (2019)
t2. Joe Campagna – 15 (2019)
t2. Mitchell Wood – 15 (2018)
4. Alex Robenolt – 14 (2021)
t5. Gage Gillott – 12 (2024)
t5. Koby Bubash – 12 (2024)

SCOUTING THE ROCK
• Slippery Rock heads into the Gannon series ranked fifth in the country in team ERA (3.56), fifth in hits allowed per nine innings (7.75) and 14th in WHIP (1.32) while having thrown the third most shutouts (7) in all of Division II this season.
 
• SRU allows just 3.7 runs per game – the lowest average in the PSAC West and third in the entire conference behind only East Stroudsburg (3.4) and Millersville (3.5).
 
• Rock pitchers have also surrendered the second fewest extra base hits in the PSAC this season with 50, which trails only Mercyhurst (44).
 
• While Slippery Rock scores 4.9 runs per game on the season overall, SRU's bats have been much hotter as of late with 8.0 runs per game on an average of 8.3 hits over its last six contests.

THE ROCK ROTATION
• The quartet of Gage Gillott (4), Joey Purcell (4), Parker Hogge (4) and Nate Malak (2) have logged the majority of The Rock's starts on the mound against PSAC West competition.
 
• Gillott anchors the rotation at 5-2 with a 1.09 ERA, 48 strikeouts, just 13 walks and a .178 opponent batting average over 49.2 innings. He has thrown five complete games and been a part of four total shutouts (three solo / one combined).
 
• Not only does Gillott rank second in all of Division II – and eighth across the entire NCAA regardless of Division – in ERA, but he is also third in complete games, fifth in WHIP (0.89) and ninth in hits allowed per nine innings (5.62) throughout the D2 ranks.
 
• Purcell has pitched into at least the sixth inning in all of his six starts in 2024. Over 41.2 innings on the mound this year, Purcell has compiled a 3-3 record that includes a 3.02 ERA, .201 opponent batting average, 45 strikeouts and a mere 12 walks.
 
• Following his award-winning outing against California, Malak is now a perfect 2-0 on the year over five appearances with a 3.00 ERA and .170 opponent batting average. The sophomore has struck out 15 batters with five walks allowed in 15 innings.
 
• No Rock pitcher outside of Gillott and Purcell has been on the mound more than Hogge, who heads into the weekend having pitched 31.2 innings across 10 appearances on the way to a 2-3 record, 4.55 ERA and 27 strikeouts.

THE ROCK BULLPEN
• Robert Herr headlines The Rock's relievers. In 11 games pitched, Herr is 3-1 with two saves, a 4.50 ERA and 20 strikeouts over 26 innings.
 
• None of the six inherited runners Herr has come into games with on base this season have scored.
 
• In what has been an all-around breakout season, Michael Kitko is a perfect 3-0 with two saves and a 1.00 ERA over seven total appearances (six relief / one start). In a total of 18 innings pitched, Kitko has fanned 21 batters while walking just five batters in addition to holding a .194 opponent batting average.
 
• Rounding out the most used arms out of The Rock's bullpen are Gino Marra (1-0, 1 Save, 2.57 ERA, 14 IP, 10 K) and Mark Wibur Jr. (0-1, 5.56 ERA, 11.1 IP, 12 K).
 
• Freshman Joey Vanzin made his first collegiate appearance against a PSAC West team a week ago when he came on for Malak in the seventh inning to finish off The Rock's one-hit shutout of the Vulcans.
 
• In total, Vanzin has pitched four innings across three appearances.

THE ROCK LINEUP
• The uptick in offensive production for The Rock has resulted in five players currently batting over .300 in Kitko (.360), Gillott (.349), Bubash (.326), Purcell (.307) and freshman third baseman Brandon Butler (.304).
 
• Bubash either holds the outright team lead or is tied for Rock-best honors in on-base percentage (.453), runs scored (18), hits (31) and walks (10) in addition to having hit three home runs with 18 RBI and .484 slugging percentage.
 
• Kitko, who has reached base in each of his last 11 games played as an outfielder, slugs .512 with a .402 on-base percentage with 15 runs, three home runs and 21 RBI. He is tied for team the lead in hits (31).
 
• In addition to being The Rock's top starting pitcher, Gillott also bats .349 with 15 runs, one home run and 12 RBI while slugging .518 courtesy of nine of his 29 hits in 2024 having gone for extra bases alongside five stolen bases.
 
• Purcell and Butler make up SRU's primary corner infielder tandem when Purcell is not pitching.
 
• In 22 games as a position player, Purcell is batting .307 with 18 runs, one home run, 11 RBI, four stolen bases and a .395 on-base percentage. Butler is in the midst of solid rookie campaign in which he's hitting .304 with 10 runs, one home run and 13 RBI.
 
• After going just 6-for-33 to begin his collegiate career, Butler is 15-for-36 with 10 RBI in his most recent 11 outings.
 
• Centerfielder Cam Panyko Morris has been used throughout The Rock's batting order. A starter in 27 games, Panyko Morris leads SRU in home runs (5), RBI (23) and slugging percentage (.527) all the while batting .297 with 15 runs, 27 total hits and a .350 on-base percentage.  
 
• After going 2-for-31 to start the year, shortstop Braden Olson has rebounded to produce 12 hits in his last 22 at-bats while drawing seven walks over the last nine games.
 
• Catcher Robby Barrientos is coming off an extremely productive California series that featured six hits, four runs, two home runs and six RBI.
 
• Eddie Morris launched his second home run of 2024 against Tiffin. Through 27 appearances, 24 of which being starts between right field and designated hitter, Morris has turned nine of his 18 hits on the year into extra bases (5 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR).

HITTING WHEN IT MATTERS
Slippery Rock enters the Gannon series with six players hitting at least .315 with runners in scoring position.
 
1. Michael Kitko (.452 / 14-31)
t2. Cam Panyko Morris (.364 / 8-22)
t2. Koby Bubash (.364 / 8-22)
4. Joey Purcell (.357 / 10-28)
5. Gage Gillott (.320 / 8-25)
6. Brandon Butler (.318 / 7-22)
 
GET A LEAD, KEEP A LEAD
SRU is 16-1 this season when leading after four innings.
 
WINNING THE CLOSE ONES
Slippery Rock opens the week 10-5 in games that have been decided by three runs or less.
 
ACTIVE STREAKS
Hitting (Top-5)
1. Koby Bubash (12)
t2. Gage Gillott (5)
t2. Michael Kitko (5)
t2. Robby Barrientos (5)
5. Cam Panyko Morris (4)
 
Reached Base (Top-5)
1. Koby Bubash (13)
2. Michael Kitko (11)
t3. Gage Gillott (5)
t3. Robby Barrientos (5)
t5. Cam Panyko Morris (4)
t5. Brandon Butler (4)
 
GANNON PRIMER
Overall Record: 6-25
PSAC West Record: 4-12
PSAC West Standings: t-7th
Home Record: 3-7
Away Record: 3-10
Neutral Site Record: 0-8
Streak: L1
Last Five Games: 1-4
Head Coach: DJ Cannon | Third season at GU (52-68 / .433)
 
GU'S RECENT RESULTS
April 9 – D'Youville – L, 7-4
April 13 – Mercyhurst – L, 8-1
April 13  – Mercyhurst – L, 9-2
April 15 – Mercyhurst – W, 10-8
April 15 – Mercyhurst – L, 11-10
 
TOP GU PITCHERS
Ryan Bioni: 1-0 – 1.74 ERA – 10.1 IP – 8 K / 12 BB - .275 OBA
Kieran Versaw-Barnes: 0-3 – 4.32 ERA – 33.1 IP – 36 K / 7 BB - .260 OBA
Jaret Boyer: 0-3 – 6.99 ERA – 28.1 IP – 20 K / 19 BB - .287 OBA
Jake Boynar: 2-1 – 7.97 ERA – 20.1 IP – 13 K / 11 BB - .280 OBA
Matt Greeber: 1-1 – 8.53 ERA – 12.2 IP – 8 K / 7 BB - .320 OBA
 
TOP GU HITTERS
Carson Wible: .337 (29-86) - 14 Runs – 3 HR - 21 RBI – .422 OBP
Reece Colvin: .293 (27-92) – 15 Runs – 1 HR – 16 RBI - .365 OBP
Alex Bemis: .286 (30-105) – 18 Runs - 1 HR – 9 – RBI – 10 SB - .387 OBP
Jared Bielanin: .264 (28-106) – 15 Runs - 1 HR – 19 RBI - .328 OBP
 
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock will play a rare road midweek non-conference game 3 p.m. April 23 at Frostburg State University.






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