GAME PROGRAM INFO
Slippery Rock has moved away from printed game programs for all sports in 2024-25. 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. Gannon
The Rock (15-9, 5-3)	Golden Knights (10-14, 3-5)
Roster	Roster
Schedule	Schedule
Statistics	Statistics
Coach Jeff Messer	Coach DJ Cannon
Program Records	Program Records
PSAC Standings
PSAC Leaders
PSAC Schedule
Jack Critchfield Park

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University baseball team will host Mansfield for a non-conference game Tuesday at Critchfield Park before continuing its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division slate with a four-game weekend series against Gannon University.
 
THE SCHEDULE
Tuesday: Mansfield – 3 p.m. – Critchfield Park (9 Inn.)
Friday: Gannon – 1 p.m. – Critchfield Park (DH Game 1)
Friday: Gannon – 3:30 p.m. – Critchfield Park (DH Game 2)
Saturday: Gannon – 1 p.m. – McConnell Family Stadium (DH Game 1)
Saturday: Gannon – 3:30 p.m. – McConnell Family Stadium (DH Game 2)
 
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 Tuesday's game and Friday's doubleheader 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.
 
GAME 24 DETAILS
Opponent: Mansfield
Games 24: Tuesday – Critchfield Park (3 p.m.)
Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter/X (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: SRU leads 32-27-1
Last Played: April 9, 2024 (Split DH)
 
SERIES HISTORY
In what's become a yearly tradition on The Rock's schedule, SRU and Mansfield have been scheduled to play a non-conference series annually since 2018 with The Rock taking eight of the last 12 games.
 
A year ago, SRU and Mansfield split a doubleheader at Critchfield Park. The Mountaineers earned a 5-1 victory in game one before Slippery Rock salvaged the day with a 13-5 win in game two. Dating back to the series origin in 1969, Slippery Rock has compiled an overall record of 32-27-1 versus Mansfield.
 
Top Performers vs. Mansfield
Joe Purcell: .368 (7-19), 7 Runs, 1 HR, 3 RBI (5 Games)
Brandon Butler: .500 (2-4), 2 Runs, 1 RBI, 2 2B (1 Game)
Michael Kitko: .333 (2-6), 1 Run, 2 RBI, 1 BB (2 Games)
 
GANNON SERIES DETAILS
Opponent: Gannon University
Games 1-2: Friday – Critchfield Park (1 p.m. / 3:30 p.m.)
Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
Games 3-4: Saturday – McConnell Family Stadium (1 p.m. / 3:30 p.m.)
Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter/X (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: SRU leads 84-41
Last Played: April 21, 2024 (SRU swept DH)
 
SERIES HISTORY
Slippery Rock swept its four-game PSAC West series with the Golden Knights a year ago to improve its all-time record against GU to a healthy 84-41. Since Jack Critchfield Park's opening in 2002, Slippery Rock has posted a 24-9 record when hosting the Golden Knights.
 
Top Performers vs. Gannon
Brandon Butler: .643 (9-14), 3 Runs, 6 RBI, 2 2B (4 Games)
Gage Gillott: .583 (7-12), 9 Runs, 5 RBI (3 Games)
Gage Gillott: 1-0, 1.42 ERA, 7 K / 3 BB (1 Start)
Cam Panyko Morris: .529 (9-17), 6 Runs, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 2 2B (5 Games)
Joe Purcell: .318 (7-22), 6 Runs, 4 RBI, 3 2B, 3 BB (6 Games)
Joe Purcell: 2-0, 1.29 ERA, 14 K, 4 BB (2 Starts)
Michael Kitko: .308 (4-13), 4 Runs, 1 HR, 2 RBI (4 Games)
Hunter Loomis: 1-0, 2.25 ERA, 6 K / 2 BB (1 Start)
 

TALE OF THE TAPE
STAT	MAN	ROCK	GU
Runs*	7.2	5.5	5.8
Runs Allowed*	8.3	4.3	5.8
Hits*	9.6	8.4	8.8
Hits Allowed*	10.0	7.3	9.3
Team Batting Average	.313	.282	.280
Opp. Batting Average	.329	.246	.299
Team OB%	.427	.372	.374
Opp. OB%	.438	.318	.381
Team ERA	8.53	4.09	5.98
Opp. ERA	7.41	5.67	5.28
* per game stats

SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
• Stats: Link
• Roster: Link
• NCBWA Atlantic Region Top 10: 10th
• Overall Record: 14-9
• PSAC West Record: 5-3
• PSAC West Standings: 4th
• Home Record: 5-3
• Away Record: 6-5
• Neutral Site Record: 3-1
• Streak: L1
• Last 5 Games: 2-3
• Head Coach: Jeff Messer | 40th season (1,137-750-5, .602)
 
ALUMNI UPDATE
Former Slippery Rock great Lou Trivino officially made his return to Major League Baseball last week when he pitched two scoreless innings in two relief appearances for the San Francisco Giants in a series victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
 
Trivino, who pitched in 285 MLB games between 2018-22 with the Oakland A's and New York Yankees, had been sidelined the last few years due to injury.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Slippery Rock lost its first conference series of the season as Indiana took three of four games from The Rock. The Crimson Hawks swept a doubleheader at SRU (5-4, 4-0) before Slippery Rock avoided the sweep with a split at IUP.
 
Game 1: IUP 5 – SRU 4
Game 2: IUP 5 – SRU 0
Game 3: SRU 9 – IUP 5
Game 4: IUP 10 – SRU 3
 
MIDWEEK SUCCESS
Tuesday's game against Mansfield will mark The Rock's second midweek game of the season, the first being a 5-3 victory in 10 innings over Walsh on March 18.
 
SRU will be busy on Tuesday and Wednesday throughout the remainder of the year as midweek games against Walsh (April 8 / Home), Cedarville (April 15 / Home), West Liberty (April 16 / Home), Ashland (April 22 / Away) and Point Park (April 29 / Home) are all on the docket.
 
Slippery Rock is 14-9 in midweek games over the last three years.
 
ROCK DROPS ONE SPOT IN NCBWA POLL
Slippery Rock slid back one spot to 10th place in this week's National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Atlantic Region Top 10 poll. SRU is one of three teams from the PSAC West in this week's top 10 while Mansfield and Gannon were both unranked.
 
NCBWA Atlantic Region Top 10 (March 31)
1. West Chester (22-5)
2. Millersville (21-4)
3. East Stroudsburg (20-3)
4. Seton Hill (20-5)
5. Frostburg State (17-7)
6. California (Pa.) (17-6)
7. Point Park (19-8)
8. Shippensburg (17-10)
9. Concord (16-11)
10. Slippery Rock (14-9)
Receiving Votes: Shepherd (3), Clarion (1), Fairmont State (1)
 
THE ROCK PITCHING STAFF
• While SRU's gaudy pitching numbers took a slight hit in last week's series loss to IUP. However, The Rock still enters the week allowing a solid 4.3 runs per game while possessing a 4.09 ERA and a .246 opponent batting average.
 
• SRU opens the week ranked sixth in the nation in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.09), seventh in walks allowed per nine innings (2.95), 10th in WHIP (1.29), 17th in ERA, 28th in hits allowed per nine innings (8.69) and 32nd in strikeouts per nine innings (9.1).
 
• The Rock's starting rotation has remained largely consistent with Nate Malak, Joe Purcell, Gage Gillott, Ethan Edkins and Hunter Loomis combining to start 22 of SRU's 23 games in 2025.
 
• Gillott headlines SRU's pitchers when in the rotation. Over four starts, he's produced a 2-2 record with a 1.96 ERA, 20 strikeouts and a .160 opponent batting average over 23 innings pitched.
 
• Malak brings a perfect 3-0 record into the Gannon series. In six starts this season, the junior has worked 29.2 innings including one complete game while tallying a 3.94 ERA with a .237 opponent batting average to go with a team-high 37 strikeouts and 10 walks. He ranks sixth out of all pitchers in the PSAC in total strikeouts.
 
• Purcell has pocketed wins in each of his last three starts, improving his record to 3-2 overall in 28.1 innings pitched. Like Malak and Gillott, Purcell has issued a mere 10 walks in addition to posting 23 strikeouts.
 
• Having logged starts in each of The Rock's first two PSAC West series, Loomis enters the week at 2-1 overall with a 4.50 ERA, a .246 opponent batting average and 15 strikeouts through his first 16 innings pitched this year.
 
• Only Malak and Purcell have been on the mound for more innings this season than Edkins, who's thrown 24.1 innings that has resulted in a 2-2 record with 22 strikeouts and just five walks. Among qualified pitchers, only Derrick Shields of IUP has issued fewer free passes in the PSAC this season with two.
 
• Slippery Rock used a "bullpen" game in its first midweek outing of the year against Walsh earlier in the season. Mark Wilbur, Joey Vanzin, Parker Hogge and Michael Kitko all made appearances in the extra-inning victory.
 
• Wilbur is in the midst of a career year in 2025. He's made a team-high seven appearances (one start / six relief) while posting a 1-0 record with three saves in 18.2 innings pitched. Entering his next appearance, Wilbur has registered a 1.93 ERA with 26 strikeouts and just four walks. Opponents are batting .176 off the senior.
 
• Kitko is yet to allow a run this season in 7.2 innings which has spanned four appearances. He is 1-0 with two saves.
 
• Vanzin has also been impressive as the promising sophomore opens the week with a 0.79 ERA, 12 strikeouts, three walks and a .150 opponent batting average in 11.1 innings pitched.
 
• Rounding out The Rock's core relievers that have made appearances for SRU this season are
Robert Herr (0-1, 5 IP, 1.80 ERA) and Gino Marra (0-0, 3.1 IP).
 
THE ROCK LINEUP
• In 23 games, Slippery Rock has averaged 5.5 runs per game on 8.4 hits and 3.6 walks a contest. SRU has produced five double-digit hits games over its last nine contests after tallying just three in the first 14 games of 2025.
 
• Eight Slippery Rock's athletes that typically take up spots in its batting order currently have an on-base percentage of at least .326 led by Gillott, who carries a .500 OBP in addition to batting .379 with 16 runs, two home runs, 10 RBI and eight stolen bases.
 
• Shortstop Tyler Cerame and catcher Treston Nemeth share the team lead in multi-hit games with seven apiece.
 
• Cerame also holds the solo Rock-high honors in hits (26), runs (24) and stolen bases (9) all the while having hit three home runs and batting .333 with a .411 on-base percentage.
 
• Nemeth meanwhile has driven in 11 runs and scored 15 more with two homers and a .440 on-base percentage mixed in with a .299 batting average.
 
• Brandon Butler has been a fixture in The Rock's lineup while earning 19 starts between the corner outfield spots, third base and designated hitter. He's batting .317 with nine runs, 10 RBI and a .377 on-base percentage.
 
• Like Gillott, Kitko occupies a spot in the outfield when his not pitching. He's enjoying a strong campaign at the plate with a .316 batting average, 13 runs, two home runs, 16 RBI, six doubles and a .402 on-base percentage.
 
• Centerfielder Cam Panyko Morris has hit safely in seven straight games, raising his batting average 77 points from .220 to .297 alongside 13 runs, three home runs and 15 RBI. He is tied with Cerame for the team lead in home runs while ranking third in doubles (5) behind Kitko and second baseman Clay Wiesen.  
 
• Nine of Wiesen's 21 hits this year have gone for extra bases with seven doubles and two triples. He collected seven RBI with 11 runs scored and four stolen bases.
 
• Freshman Stone Powell (.333, 3 Runs, 1 HR, 9 RBI) splits time at first base with Purcell (9 Runs, 1 HR, 5 RBI) while Jimmy Sadler (8 Runs, 10 RBI, 17 Hits, 5 SB) has started 19 of his 21 games played at third base.
 
ROCK TRENDS
• In eight PSAC West games this season, Panyko Morris is batting .400 with four runs, two home runs, eight RBI and four doubles.
• Nine of Gillott's 21 hits in 2025 have come in the last seven games.
• Cerame has scored at least one run in 15 of 23 games this year.
• SRU is 8-1 when leading after four innings.
• Get a lead, keep a lead: Slippery Rock is 11-3 when scoring first in 2025.
 
HITTING WHEN IT MATTERS (RISP)
Slippery Rock begins the week with five athletes that are hitting at least .320 with runners in scoring position.
 
1. Tyler Cerame (.500 / 9-18)
2. Brandon Butler (.429 / 9-21)
3. Gage Gillott (.367 / 7-19)
4. Michael Kitko (.364 / 8-22)
5. Stone Powell (.357 / 5-14)
 
FRIENDLY CONFINES OF CRITCHFIELD PARK
Since its renovation prior to the 2021 season, Slippery Rock has posted a 78-41 (.655) record when playing at Jack Critchfield Park. SRU is off to a 5-3 start at home this season.
 
RECORDS WATCH
Pitching Appearances (14-17)
t14. Andy McClymonds (2019-22): 42
t14. Vince Lloyd (2007-10): 42
t14. Luke Trueman (2019-23): 42
t17. Robert Herr (Active): 41
t17. Kevin Talmadge (1991-94): 41
 
Strikeouts (13-17)
13. Vince Lloyd (2007-10): 154
14. Derek Blyzwick (2003-07): 153
15. Dave Sansom (2000-03): 151
16. Matt Gordon (2016-18): 142
17: Joe Purcell: 141
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
April 8: vs. Walsh (Single 9)
April 11: at Lock Haven (DH Game 1)
April 11: at Lock Haven (DH Game 2)
April 12: vs. Lock Haven (DH Game 1)
April 12: vs. Lock Haven (DH Game 2)
 
MANSFIELD PRIMER
• Stats: Link
• Roster: Link
• NCBWA Atlantic Region Top 10: NR
• Overall Record: 10-13
• PSAC East Record: 4-4
• PSAC East Standings: t-4th
• Home Record: 1-3
• Away Record: 7-6
• Streak: W2
• Last 5 Games: 3-2
• Head Coach: Andrew Chalot | Sixth season (76-134, .362)

RECENT RESULTS
March 25 at Walsh: W (6-3)
March 28 vs. California: L (6-3)
March 28 vs. California: W (6-1)
March 30 at California: L (9-6)
March 30 at California: W (3-2)
 
TOP HITTERS
Jacob Houtz: .442 (34-77) – 21 Runs – 6 HR – 26 RBI - .533 OBP
Ryan Sekulski: .371 (26-70) – 15 Runs – 2 HR – 18 RBI - .423 OBP
Ryan Scott: .355 (27-76) – 16 Runs – 11 RBI – 6 SB - .443 OBP
Shane Stossel: .353 (24-68) – 19 Runs – 5 HR – 22 RBI - .446 OBP
Cole Serfass: .303 (20-66) – 14 Runs – 2 HR – 15 RBI - .410 OBP
 
GANNON PRIMER
• Stats: Link
• Roster: Link
• NCBWA Atlantic Region Top 10: NR
• Overall Record: 10-14
• PSAC West Record: 3-5
• PSAC West Standings: t-5th
• Home Record: 2-2
• Away Record: 5-11
• Streak: W1
• Last 5 Games: 3-2
• Head Coach: DJ Cannon | Fourth season at GU (67-91, .424)

RECENT RESULTS
March 26 at Lock Haven: W (9-8)
March 28 vs. Shepherd: L (6-0)
March 28 vs. Shepherd: L (6-4)
March 29 at Shepherd: W (6-5)
March 29 at Shepherd: W (8-5)
 
TOP HITTERS
Wes Parker: .365 (27-74) – 17 Runs – 7 HR – 19 RBI - .385 OBP
Ian Soto: .321 (27-84) – 19 Runs – 2 HR – 18 RBI - .422 OBP
Hunter Troiano: .319 (23-72) – 11 Runs – 1 HR – 16 RBI - .388 OBP
Drew Stangelo: .288 (19-66) – 9 Runs – 6 RBI - .342 OBP
Alex Bemis: .286 (24-84) – 17 Runs – 2 HR – 17 RBI - .398 OBP
 
TOP PITCHERS
Ryan Hood: 2-1 – 25.2 IP – 2.81 ERA –  22 K / 13 BB - .208 OBA
Jake Boynar: 2-2 – 24.2 IP – 5.47 ERA –  31 K / 15 BB - .283 OBA
Logan Ayres: 0-2, 2 Saves – 21.2 IP – 1.66 ERA –  19 K / 6 BB - .222 OBA
Zach Tkatch: 1-0, 1 Save – 18.1 IP – 3.93 ERA –  10 K / 4 BB - .333 OBA
Jacob Engel: 2-1 – 19 IP – 8.53 ERA –  12 K / 4 BB - .366 OBA

UP NEXT
Slippery Rock hosts Walsh 3 p.m. April 8 at Critchfield Park for a nine-inning game. The Rock beat the Cavaliers, 5-3, in 10 innings earlier in the season in North Canton, Ohio.




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