SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University baseball team earned a doubleheader sweep against Gannon University Saturday at Critchfield Park.
 
The Rock opened the afternoon with a 5-2 victory before posting a convincing 17-1 win in game two. The 16-run victory in game two represented SRU's largest win since beating West Virginia State 25-0 on March 11, 2023.
 
The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division sweep improves Slippery Rock's record to 22-11 overall and 12-6 in league games while Gannon drops to 6-27 overall and 4-14 inside the PSAC West.
 
The trio of Koby Bubash, Joey Purcell and Brandon Butler all collected hits in both of Saturday's games.
 
Bubash extended his hitting streak to 14 games after going a combined 4-for-7 with three runs scored and one RBI over the doubleheader. The 14-game hitting streak is tied for the fourth longest streak inside the program over the last seven seasons.
 
Butler was 3-for-6 with one run and an RBI while Purcell collected three hits as well in addition to walking twice scoring three runs and driving in two more.
 
After striking out seven batters to earn his sixth victory of the season in the opener, Gage Gillott took to the plate in game two and proceeded to go 3-for-4 with four runs, four RBI and a walk.
 
GAME ONE: SRU 5 – GU 2
A five-run second inning combined with another solid outing on the mound by Gillott led to a 5-2 win for The Rock in game one.
 
With the game tied 0-0, Slippery Rock's first three batters of the second inning all reached base as Cam Panyko Morris walked followed by back-to-back singles from Bubash and Butler. Two batters later, Robby Barrientos brought in the game's first run courtesy of a one-out sacrifice fly.
 
Bubash would come home on a wild pitch with Purcell then scoring Butler on a double for the inning's third run. Eddie Morris eventually capped off the big inning with a two-run single which plated Purcell and Braden Olson.
 
While Slippery Rock was held without a run for the final five innings, Gannon could not capitalize as the Golden Knights managed just single-run frames in both the third and fifth innings on the way to SRU's three-run win.

Gillott (6-2) closed his ninth start of the year by going 6.2 innings with two runs allowed – one of which was earned – on four hits and three walks all the while striking out seven batters.
 
Robert Herr came on for Gillott in the seventh to record the game's final out and pick up his third save of 2024 in the process.
 
Herr and Gillott combined to strand six Gannon batters on base over the seven-inning victory.
 
Purcell, Morris and Bubash enjoyed two-hit performances in the opener with Morris driving in two runs and Purcell reaching base for a third time via a walk as well as securing one RBI.
 
Butler, Olson and Darryn Callahan had one hit apiece. The hits by Callahan and Olson both came by way of doubles.
 
Matt Graeber (1-2) gave up five runs on six hits and three walks through three innings for Gannon. Nick Harhai took the mound in place of Graeber in the fourth to close out the game with three shutout innings.
 
GAME TWO: SRU 17 – GU 1
Slippery Rock cruised to the doubleheader sweep by scoring multiple runs in four of six innings en route to a 17-1 win against the Golden Knights in the nightcap.
 
The Rock went for two runs in the first inning, four in the second, three in the fourth and finally eight in the sixth.
 
While he had more than enough run support, reigning PSAC West Pitcher of the Week Nate Malak was once again sharp as he took a shutout into the seventh inning before Gannon was finally able to breakthrough for a run.
 
Malak improved to 3-0 by striking out five and scattering six hits and five walks for what was the first complete game of his collegiate career.
 
Each of the 13 Rock batters that recorded a plate appearance in game two reached base. All told, SRU racked up 13 hits and seven walks. Slippery Rock has now totaled double-digit hits in five of its last eight games.
 
Gillott was an impressive 3-for-4 with four runs, four RBI and a walk. Not to be outdone, Panyko Morris went 4-for-5 with two runs and an RBI. One of Panyko Morris' career-best four hits was a triple.
 
Rounding out The Rock's top performers in the win were Bubash (2-for-4, 2 runs, 1 RBI), Butler (2-for-3, 1 RBI), Barrientos (2-for-3, 1 run, 2 RBI) and Olson (2 runs, 2 walks).
 
GU used four pitchers in game two. Kevin Schott (0-3) took the loss on the mound for Gannon after allowing nine runs on nine hits and two walks over 3.1 innings.
 
Slippery Rock and Gannon will finish off their four-game weekend series with a doubleheader Saturday at McConnell Family Stadium in Erie, Pennsylvania. First pitch of game one is set for 1 p.m.





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