SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University baseball team begins its quest for a conference championship when it opens the 2025 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Tournament 8 p.m. Wednesday against host No. 6 Millersville University.
 
TICKET INFORMATION
• CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS
• All tickets will be digital tickets this year. No cash sales at the gate.
• Wednesday Prices: $15 adults, $7 children/students (good for all games)
• Thursday Prices: $15 adults, $7 children/students (good for all games)
• Friday Prices: $10 adults, $5 children/students (good for all games)
• Saturday Prices: $10 adults, $5 children/students (good for all games)
• Free admission for students from member institutions with valid ID
• All sales final. No refunds for rainouts (PSAC policy). The PSAC advises purchasing tickets the night before or day of after reviewing the weather forecast.
 
WATCH ON YOUR TV - "ROCK ATHLETICS DIGITAL NETWORK" APPS
• Fans can watch every game of the PSAC Tournament 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 TOURNAMENT FORMAT
The top four teams in the final regular season standings from the Western and Eastern division standings qualified for the PSAC Tournament.
 
This year's tournament will be single elimination on day one to narrow the field from eight teams to four teams and then will be double elimination beginning on day two with the four remaining teams.
 
Every game in the PSAC Tournament will be a nine-inning contest with a 10-run rule in effect after seven innings. The winner of the PSAC Tournament receives an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
 
A full tournament bracket can be viewed HERE.
 
PSAC TOURNAMENT GAME 1
Opponent: Millersville University
Date: Wednesday – 8 p.m.
Tickets: Link
Location: Cooper Park
Live Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: SRU leads 11-9
Last Played: May 12, 2022 (MU won 5-4)
 
PSAC TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Slippery Rock will be making its 30th trip to the PSAC Tournament under head coach Jeff Messer. Overall, SRU has won four PSAC Championships all-time with league titles coming in 1978, 1982, 1991, 2001.
 
No stranger to the postseason either, Millersville has won six conference titles (1968, 1974, 1975, 1998, 2015, 2022) and hasn't missed the PSAC Tournament since the 2017 season.
 
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Slippery Rock enters the PSAC Tournament as the No. 4 seed out of the PSAC West on the heels of a regular season that saw The Rock go 31-18 overall and 16-12 in division competition.
 
One of the top teams in the Atlantic Region, Millersville captured the program's 16th PSAC East regular season title – and fourth in the last five years - thanks to a 24-4 league record which came as part of a 38-7 overall mark. SRU evenly split its final 10 games of the year against four teams in Ashland (35-15), Point Park (37-13), California (34-11) and Seton Hill (35-13) which all closed the year with at least 34 wins.
 
The Marauders have spent the majority of the season ranked among the nation's best. As of Tuesday, Millersville was positioned sixth in the country by both the ABCA and D2Baseball and ninth in the latest NCBWA poll.
 
MUST WIN FOR THE ROCK
If Slippery Rock hopes to qualify for the NCAA Tournament, Wednesday's game figures to be a virtual must-win for SRU.
 
The Rock were eighth in the most recent set of Atlantic Region ranking released last week by the NCAA Division II Baseball Committee. The top six teams in the final regional rankings will earn a postseason berth with conference tournament champions from the PSAC and MEC earning automatic bids alongside four at-large selections.
 
While two wins from last week against Point Park and Seton Hill will be factored into the next set of regional rankings which will be released Wednesday, it is unlikely that those games alone will be enough to vault The Rock into the top six.
 
However, a victory over Millersville – which was first in the regional rankings – would be a huge addition to Slippery Rock's resume in addition to keeping its hopes of winning a conference title and garnering the automatic bid that comes with it alive.
 
Millersville meanwhile very likely has already locked up a spot in the NCAA Tournament regardless of Wednesday's outcome.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Despite being two PSAC stalwarts, The Rock and Marauders rarely cross paths as Wednesday's game will be just the 20th meeting in the all-time series - and just the second contest in the last decade.
 
Slippery Rock and Millersville last played in the 2022 PSAC Tournament when the Marauders eliminated SRU in a tight 5-4 decision as Eddie Morris was thrown out at home plate in the bottom of the ninth when he attempted to score the game-tying run on a Joel Spishock double.
 
Just one current Rock athlete played in the 2022 game – Robert Herr pitched shutout innings in relief of starting pitcher Luke Trueman.
 
For Millersville, current Marauders Bren Taylor (2-4, 1 Run, 1 RBI), Keegan Soltis (0-4) and Evan Rishell (2 IP, 2 ER) were all in the starting lineup in the 2022 win.
 
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
• Roster: Link
• Stats: Link
• Overall Record: 31-18
• PSAC West Record: 16-12
• PSAC West Finish: 4th
• NCAA Regional Rankings: 8th
• Home Record: 16-7
• Away Record: 12-10
• Neutral Site Record: 3-1
• Streak: L3
• Last Five Games: 2-3
• Head Coach: Jeff Messer | 40th season (1,154-759-5, .603)

SRU'S RECENT RESULTS
April 29: Point Park– W, 13-9
May 1: Seton Hill – W, 3-0
May 1: Seton Hill – L, 2-1
May 2: Seton Hill – L, 7-2
May 2: Seton Hill – L, 6-0
 
SRU BY THE NUMBERS (PSAC Rank)
Runs Per Game: 5.2 (13th)
Runs Allowed Per Game: 3.9 (3rd)
On-Base Percentage: .379 (11th)
Batting Average: .294 (9th)
Opponent Batting Average: .255 (3rd)
Hits Per Game: 8.8 (6th)
Hits Allowed Per Game: 7.5 (6th)
Team ERA: 3.94 (2nd)

ROCK WELL REPRESENTED ON ALL-PSAC WEST TEAM
Slippery Rock placed four athletes on the 2025 All-PSAC West Team, the league office announced Tuesday with the unveiling of its annual awards.
 
SRU All-PSAC West Honorees
Gage Gillott: First Team Utility
Brandon Butler: Second Team Third Base
Hunter Loomis: Second Team Starting Pitcher
Nate Malak: Second Team Starting Pitcher
 
Tuesday's announcement marks the second consecutive year Gillott has been named to the All-PSAC West Team as well as being his third all-conference honor: he was a selection as both an outfielder and pitcher a year ago. Butler, Loomis and Malak are all receiving their first All-PSAC West awards.
 
ONE OF THE TOP PITCHING STAFF'S IN D2
As has been the case inside the program for the last few seasons, this year's Slippery Rock team has been led by its pitching staff which has turned into one of the best collective units in the nation.
 
Slippery Rock closed the regular season allowing just 3.9 runs per game while limiting opponents to a .255 batting average and a .324 on-base percentage.
 
Heading into the PSAC Tournament, The Rock ranks in the top 35 in Division II (247 teams) in six pitching categories. SRU's arms will need to be sharp as it looks to upset one of the top offensive teams in the region.
 
SRU D2 Rankings
Walks Allowed Per 9 Innings: 3rd (2.83)
Strikeout-to-Walk Ratio: 5th (2.91)
WHIP: 9th (1.31)
Team ERA: 10th (3.94)
Shutouts: 11th (6)
Hits Allowed Per 9 Innings: 33rd (8.97)
 
PLAYING 9
Slippery Rock is 10-5 (.667) in scheduled nine-inning games this season.
 
GET A LEAD, KEEP A LEAD
Slippery Rock is a perfect 22-0 when leading after five innings this season.
 
COMFORTABLE IN THE CLOSE ONES
Slippery Rock is 18-12 (.600) in games decided by three runs or less.
 
QUICK STARTS = WINS
SRU has scored in the first inning 15 times this season, with 12 of those games having resulted in victories.
 
Slippery Rock also excels when getting an early lead as it is 22-7 when scoring first in games. The Rock's 42 total runs in the first inning of games this season is its second-highest scoring output in an inning behind only 48 runs scored in the fifth.

MALAK EARNS WEEKLY HONOR
Junior Nate Malak was named the PSAC West Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season thanks to a dominant showing against Seton Hill last week.
 
Malak pitched arguably the best game of his collegiate career as he led The Rock to a 3-0 victory over the Griffins to clinch a PSAC Tournament berth for SRU. The Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania native limited Seton Hill to just two hits while striking out three and not issuing a single walk.
 
It took just 78 pitches for Malak to record his third complete-game shutout of 2025 – this one coming against a Seton Hill team that entered the series averaging 6.7 runs on 9.1 hits per game.

FOUR STRONG OUT THE GATE
• While tournament play often devolves into an "all hands on deck" situation, Slippery Rock's starting rotation in conference competition of Nate Malak, Gage Gillott, Hunter Loomis and Joe Purcell compares favorably against any four-man rotation in the PSAC.
 
• The 2025 season has been a breakout year for Malak, who'll enter the PSAC Tournament with a 6-2 record and in possession of a 3.26 ERA with 58 strikeouts and a.226 opponent batting average over 60.2 innings pitched. Across the PSAC West, Malak ranks second among qualified pitchers in opponent batting average, second in innings pitched, third in strikeouts, fourth in ERA and seventh in walks (17).
 
• Gillott – the 2024 PSAC West Pitcher of the Year – has pitched 37 innings across eight starts on the way to going 4-3 with a 3.16 ERA, 28 strikeouts and a .201 opponent batting average. He held the opposition to two runs or less in seven of his eight starts. All this is in addition to Gillott being one of The Rock's most important batters. 
 
• Loomis – a 2024 transfer from Niagara County Community College – improved in virtually every statistical category in his second season with The Rock. In 11 appearances on the mound, including seven starts, Loomis has pitched 41 innings while going 4-1 with a 2.20 ERA, 39 strikeouts and a .224 opponent batting average. He has been dominant over his last three starts with just one run allowed and 17 strikeouts through 15.1 innings pitched.
 
• One of the most tenured veterans of The Rock's pitching staff, Purcell heads into the PSC Tournament ranked 11th in program history for starts in a career (31), 13th in strikeouts (154) and 19th in innings pitched (173.1). As a senior, Purcell has gone 4-3 with a 5.91 ERA and 36 strikeouts with 16 walks in 53.1 innings.
 
• Collectively, SRU's rotation has compiled an 18-9 record that's included 161 strikeouts, just 64 walks and a collective .248 opponent batting average (184-741).
 
• Another quality aspect of SRU's starting rotation is the fact that all four members routinely pitch deep into games with a total of 192 innings of work this year between the four. The group has pitched into at least the fourth inning in 30 of its 37 starts in 2025.

STRONG STABLE OF ARMS
• When opponents do get past The Rock's starting rotation, things typically don't get much easier as SRU's bullpen has shined through much of 2025.
 
• Mark Wilbur is the workhorse of the SRU bullpen with 38.1 innings pitched over 17 appearances. Wilbur has gone 2-2 with six saves thanks to a 2.11 ERA, 50 strikeouts, only 10 walks and a .187 opponent batting average. He has allowed multiple runs in an outing just once since March 28.
 
• Michael Kitko has been virtually unhittable when called upon. In addition to his role in The Rock's batting order, the junior is 2-0 with three saves as a reliever. In his 16.2 innings pitched this year, which have spanned 16.2 innings, Kitko has a 1.08 ERA and a .158 opponent batting average with 20 strikeouts and just six walks.
 
• Kitko has given up a run in just four of his 21 career appearances at The Rock.
 
• Joey Vanzin is in the midst of a solid sophomore season in which he's posted a 1-2 record with four saves along with a 3.04 ERA, .274 opponent batting average and 22 strikeouts with eight walks over 26.2 innings.
 
• Slippery Rock's left-handed reliever contingent consists of seniors Gino Marra (4-1, 1 Save, 3.86 ERA, 17.2 IP, .246 BAA) and Robert Herr (0-1, 1 Save, 4.58 ERA, 17.2 IP, 20 K / 4 BB) as well as freshman Kyle Warnsman (0-0, 3.00 ERA, 6.0 IP, .227 BAA).
 
• Rounding out The Rock's available arms for the PSAC Tournament are a pair of veterans in junior Parker Hogge (1-0, 1 Save, 5.96 ERA, 22.2 IP, 17 K / 6 BB) and senior Ethan Edkins (3-3, 7.50 ERA, 36 IP, 33 K / 8 BB).
 
• Only nine of The Rock's 38 inherited runners have scored this year.

AROUND THE INFIELD
• First-year Rock catcher Treston Nemeth has made 48 total starts - 43 of which coming at catcher. Nemeth, who has hit safely in seven consecutive games, is one of four Rock athletes with an on-base percentage of at least .400 to go with a .297 batting average, 25 runs scored, two home runs and 21 RBIs.
 
• Few freshmen in the PSAC have had a strong of rookie season as first baseman Stone Powell. A starter in 36 of his 39 games played, Powell enters his first postseason hitting .330 with a .426 on-base percentage, 21 runs, three home runs and 24 RBIs. 15 of his 37 hits have been of the extra base variety.
 
• The only Rock athlete to have started all 49 games this season, second baseman Clay Wiesen hits .290 with 23 RBIs, nine stolen bases and a.348 on-base percentage.
 
• The lone senior starter across the infield, shortstop Tyler Cerame heads to Millersville in possession of a .310 batting average, .386 on-base percentage in addition to having scored a team-high 37 runs with three home runs and 24 RBIs.
 
• Sophomore third baseman Brandon Butler has spent his sophomore season hitting .329 with 29 runs, one home run, 18 RBIs and a .413 on-base percentage. One of the many highlights of Butler's season came recently when he became the first Rock athlete in 16 years to hit for the cycle as part of Slippery Rock's 13-9 victory over Point Park on April 29.
 
• Rock reserve infielders who have seen time this season include third baseman / shortstop Jimmy Sadler (17 RBIs, 5 stolen bases), first baseman Andrew Frye (9 RBIs), first baseman Joe Purcell (5 RBIs, 11 runs), third baseman Caelan Bender (12 GP) and catcher Zack Streightif (5-15).

THE ROCK OUTFIELD
• Slippery Rock's outfielder has remained largely consistent with Cam Panyko Morris in centerfield flanked by right fielder Michael Kitko and left fielder Gage Gillott (when he's not pitching).
 
• At the plate, Gillott split his time between hitting from the leadoff and cleanup spots in The Rock's batting order while playing left field. In 40 regular season starts, Gillott hit .361 with a .452 on-base percentage and a .521 slugging percentage while scoring 29 runs with four home runs, 25 RBIs and 12 stolen bases.
 
• The only current Rock player to have appeared in over 100 career games as a position player, Panyko Morris will be playing in his 115th contest when he takes the field at Cooper Park. SRU's everyday centerfielder the last two years, Panyko Morris is batting .294 with a team-high five home runs along with 25 runs, 26 RBIs, eight stolen bases and a .384 on-base percentage.
 
• Kitko ranks third in the nation in the NCAA's "toughest to strikeout" with just one strikeout every 25.8 at-bats. He also hits .297 with 26 runs scored, two home runs, 29 RBIs and a .391 on-base percentage.
 
MESSER RECORDS 35th WINNING SEASON
No matter how the rest of the year plays out, Slippery Rock head coach Jeff Messer is already assured of having locked down his 35th winning season in his 40 years in charge of the program.
 
All told, Messer carries a stellar all-time record of 1,154-759-5 (.603).
 
Already the winningest all-time coach in the PSAC and an ABCA Hall of Fame inductee, Messer currently ranks ninth in Division II history for wins by a coach while also being third among active coach in career victories.
 
He is four wins away from tying Mike Sansing (Shorter/Kennesaw State 1988-21) for ninth place on the D2 career wins ledger.

HITTING WHEN IT MATTERS
Slippery Rock enters the postseason with five players hitting at least .300 with runners in scoring position.
 
The Rock With RISP
1. Gage Gillott (.370 / 17-46)
2. Brandon Butler (.366 / 15-41)
3. Michael Kitko (.341 / 15-44)
4. Tyler Cerame (.310 / 18-58)
5. Stone Powell (.302 / 13-43)
 
ACTIVE STREAKS
Reached Base
1. Michael Kitko: 7
2. Luke Anderton: 6
3. Treston Nemeth: 5
4. Joe Purcell: 2
t5. Robert Herr: 1
t5. Zack Streightif: 1
 
Hitting
1. Treston Nemeth: 5
2. Luke Anderton: 2
t3. Robert Herr: 1
t3. Zack Streightif: 1
 
RECORDS WATCH
Saves
1. Wyatt Daugherty (2016-19): 19
2. John Kovalik (2011-14): 16
3. Ken Ord (1987-90): 14
t4. Matt Jones (1993-95): 9
t4. Ryan Oglesby (2011-15): 9
t4. Mark Wilbur 9
 
Pitching Appearances (5-8)
5. Mark Draeger (1992-95): 47
5. Mark Dolan (1996-99): 47
t7. Robert Herr (Active): 46
t7. Dave Samson (2000-03): 46
 
Strikeouts (10-13)
10. Rocky D'Angelo (2002-05): 159
11. Ricky Mineo (2019-22): 156
12. Mark Draeger (1992-95): 155
t13. Vince Lloyd (2007-10): 154
t13: Joe Purcell: 154
 
Innings Pitched (15-19)
15. Pat Keryan (1987-90): 181
16. Steve Urda (1994-97): 177.1
17. Brian Robinson (1988-91): 175.2
18. Matt Gordon (2016-18): 175.1
19. Joe Purcell: 173.1
 
MILLERSVILLE PRIMER
• Roster: Link
• Stats: Link
• Overall Record: 38-7
• PSAC East Record: 24-4
• PSAC East Finish: 1st
• NCAA Regional Rankings: 1st
• Home Record: 23-2
• Away Record: 13-5
• Neutral Site Record: 2-0
• Streak: W5
• Last Five Games: 5-0
• Head Coach: Jon Shehan | 18th season (635-282-1, .692)
 
MU'S RECENT RESULTS
April 26: West Chester – W, 10-6
May 1: East Stroudsburg – W, 11-3
May 2: East Stroudsburg – W, 4-3
May 3: East Stroudsburg – W, 11-5
May 3: East Stroudsburg – W, 14-6
 
MU BY THE NUMBERS (PSAC Rank)
Runs Per Game: 8.6 (1st)
Runs Allowed Per Game: 4.2 (6th)
On Base Percentage: .446 (1st)
Batting Average: .322 (2nd)
Opponent Batting Average: .251 (2nd)
Hits Per Game: 9.5 (3rd)
Hits Allowed Per Game: 7.2 (4th)
Team ERA: 4.49 (5th)
 
TOP HITTERS
Sam Morris: .368 (57-155) – 41 Runs – 4 HR – 39 RBI - .433 OB%
Jeff Sabater: .368 (53-144) – 57 Runs – 1 HR – 33 RBI - .505 OB%
Bren Taylor: .363 (53-146) – 37 Runs – 1 HR – 46 RBI - .472 OB%
Matthew Williams: .323 (50-155) – 44 Runs – 13 HR – 52 RBI - .433 OB%
Amani Jones: .321 (45-140) – 37 Runs – 4 HR – 40 RBI - .409 OB%
 
TOP PITCHERS
Connor Blantz: 6-1 – 58 IP – 3.88 ERA – 85 K / 17 BB - .213 OBA
Conor Cook: 8-1 – 55.2 IP – 4.85 ERA – 54 K / 22 BB - .268 OBA
Garet Blankbiller: 7-1 – 48.2 IP – 4.25 ERA – 51 K / 17 BB - .246 OBA
Alex Kuehn: 6-1 – 43.2 IP – 3.50 ERA – 30 K / 12 BB - .262 OBA
Evan Rishell: 1-1, 5 Saves – 30 IP – 3.60 ERA – 24 K / 12 BB - .277 OBA
Gavin Lill: 2-1, 7 Saves – 17.1 IP – 4.67 ERA – 21 K / 9 BB - .242 OBA
 
ALL-PSAC EAST MARAUDERS
Jon Shehan: Coach of the Year
Amani Jones: 1st Team SS
Bren Taylor: 1st Team OF
Matthew Williams: 1st Team UTIL
Jeff Sabater: 2nd Team OF
Connor Blantz: 2nd Team SP
Conor Cook: 2nd Team SP
 
UP NEXT
The winner of the Slippery Rock – Millersville game moves on to the double elimination portion of the PSAC Tournament 1:30 p.m. Thursday against the winner of the California (Pa.) – West Chester contest. A loss for The Rock against Millersville would leave SRU firmly on the bubble and very likely on the outside looking in of NCAA Tournament contention.





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