SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University baseball team lost to the University of Charleston, 3-2, Tuesday in non-conference competition at Jack Critchfield Park.
 
With the loss, SRU's record falls to 13-7 while the Golden Eagles leave The Rock at 21-6. Both teams came into Tuesday's game ranked among the best in the Atlantic Region by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association – Charleston was slotted third in this week's regional rankings while Slippery Rock was eighth.
 
Despite being a bullpen day for both teams with 11 total pitchers taking the mound, offense was at a premium Tuesday as SRU and UC combined to scatter 13 hits across the nine-inning game.
 
Nate Malak got the start for Slippery Rock. He struck out four batters over three shutout innings. Joey Vanzin came on for Malak in the fourth. In his first collegiate game, Vanzin gave up one run in one inning.
 
Robert Herr (2-1) was the pitcher of record for The Rock. He went two innings, allowing two unearned runs on three hits while striking out three batters. Mark Wilbur Jr. and Parker Hogge finished out the game for SRU with three combined scoreless innings.
 
Cam Panyko Morris accounted for two of Slippery Rock's six hits on the day in a 2-for-5, one-run performance.
 
Michael Kitko, Steve Budash, Brandon Butler and Robby Barrientos all produced one-hit games with Kitko and Butler driving in one run apiece and Barrientos reaching base for a second time courtesy of a walk.  
 
Slippery Rock struck quickly against the Golden Eagles via a two-run first inning.
 
After Panyko Morris and Morris led off the game with a single and a walk, respectively, a pair of ground outs by Gage Gillott and Kitko moved the duo around the base paths. Panyko Morris eventually scored during Kitko's at-bat. Two batters later, Butler shot a single down the left field line to drive in Morris and give SRU an early 2-0 lead.
 
The Rock's lead held until the fourth inning when UC took advantage of two walks and a stolen base to put runners on the corners with only one out. Vanzin, who entered the game to start the inning, did well to navigate the dangerous situation and ultimately allow just one run off a sacrifice fly before stranding two runners on base with SRU still holding a 2-1 edge.
 
However, Charleston continued its rally in the sixth inning by scoring twice to take a one-run lead it would never relinquish.
 
Slippery Rock's best chance for a game-tying run came in the bottom of the sixth as Budash led off the frame with single and Barrientos later drew a two-out walk only for Charleston reliever Scott Templeton to work out of the jam by forcing an inning-ending flyout.
 
Templeton pitched another scoreless inning of relief in the seventh before giving way to Cody Godbold and Trey Ritchie. Godbold and Ritchie stymied SRU's bats over the final two innings to close out Charleston's 3-2 victory.
 
Joe Simonetta (1-0) got the win Charleston after pitching a scoreless fifth inning while Ritchie earned his second save of 2024. Hector Carreon-Herrera went 2-for-3 with one RBI and a walk to lead UC's offensive efforts.
 
Slippery Rock returns to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division action with a four-game series this weekend against Indiana University (Pa.).
 
SRU is currently scheduled to host the Crimson Hawks for two games Friday before heading to IUP Saturday for another doubleheader. First pitch of game one on both days is set for 1 p.m.





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