GAME PROGRAM INFO
Slippery Rock has moved away from printed game programs for all sports. 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. Mansfield
The Rock (7-3)	Mounties (8-7)
Roster	Roster
Schedule	Schedule
Statistics	Statistics
Coach Jeff Messer	Coach Andrew Chalot
Program Records	Program Records
PSAC Standings
PSAC Leaders
PSAC Schedule
Jack Critchfield Park

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University baseball team concludes its 11-game homestand with a four-game weekend series against Mansfield at Critchfield Park.
 
SERIES SCHEDULE
The Rock and Mountaineers will play doubleheaders Saturday (7 inn. / 9 inn.) and Sunday (7/7). First pitch on Saturday is scheduled for 1 p.m., with Sunday's games starting at noon.
 
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 verifiable 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 every pitch of the Mansfield series 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.
 
SERIES DETAILS
Opponent: Mansfield
Location: Critchfield Park
Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
In-game Updates: Twitter/X (@Rock_Athletics)
Game 1-2: Saturday (1 p.m. / 3:30 p.m.)
Game 3-4: Sunday (Noon / 2:30 p.m.)
All-Time Series: SRU leads 33-27-1
Last Played: April 1, 2025 (SRU won 5-2)
 
SERIES HISTORY
This weekend's series marks the fifth consecutive season in which The Rock and Mounties have met in non-conference play, SRU has won six of the nine games in the series over that stretch of time to improve its all-time record to 33-27-1.
 
A year ago, SRU took a nine-inning game from Mansfield at Critchfield Park, 5-2, behind a 2-for-4, three-RBI day at the plate by Treston Nemeth. Robert Herr (4 IP, 3 R, 4 K), Mark Wilbur (W, 3 IP, 0 R, 3 K) and Joey Vanzin (S, 2 IP 0 R) combined to toss a five hitter.
 
Top Rock Performers vs. Mansfield
Mark Wilbur: 1-1 – 1 Save – 10.2 IP – 14 K / 4 BB - .225 OBA (4 App.)
Joey Vanzin: 0-0 - 1 Save – 4 IP – 0.00 ERA – 3 K / 1 BB - .083 OBA (2 App.)
Parker Hogge: 0-0 – 2.2 IP – 3.37 ERA – 6 K / 0 BB - .272 OBA (1 App.)
Treston Nemeth: .500 (2-4) - 3 RBI (1 GP)
Brandon Butler: .429 (3-7) - 2 Runs - 2 RBI - 2 2B - 2 BB (2 GP)
Brett Galcik: .333 (1-3) - 1 2B (1 GP)
Darryn Callahan: .333 (1-3) - 1 RBI (2 GP)
 

TALE OF THE TAPE
STAT	ROCK	MOUNTIES
Runs*	6.6	6.8
Runs Allowed*	5.2	5.3
Hits*	8.9	9.4
Hits Allowed*	9.7	7.6
Team Batting Average	.301	.295
Opp. Batting Average	.318	.255
Team OB%	.391	.415
Opp. OB%	.383	.380
Team ERA	5.30	5.22
Opp. ERA	5.90	6.75
* per game stats

SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
• Stats: Link
• Roster: Link
• ABCA Top 30: RV
• D2Baseball.com Top 25: RV
• NCBWA Atlantic Region Top 10: 5th
• Overall Record: 7-3
• Home Record: 4-3
• Away Record: 0-0
• Neutral Site Record: 3-0
• Streak: W1
• Last 5 Games: 4-1
• Head Coach: Jeff Messer | 41st season (1,161-763-5 / .603)

LAST TIME OUT
Slippery Rock stacked up a series victory by taking two of three games from West Virginia State last weekend at Critchfield Park. The lone loss for SRU last weekend occurred in eight innings.
 
Game 1: SRU 8 – WVSU 7
Game 2: WVSU 11 – SRU 8 (8 inn.)
Game 3:  SRU 7 – WVSU 1
 
ROCK BACK IN ALL THE POLLS
As has been the case for the majority of the season, Slippery Rock is once again appearing in all the major polls in Division II baseball this week.
 
After a one-week absence, SRU is back to receiving votes in American Baseball Coaches Association Top 30 while continuing to receive votes in the D2Baseball Top 25. Inside the region, Slippery Rock is slotted fourth in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Atlantic Region Top 10.

HOME SWEET HOME
Since Critchfield Park's stadium renovation in 2020, Slippery Rock has recorded an 88-47 (.652) overall regular season home record including a 47-15 (.758) mark against non-conference opponents in home games.
 
A year ago, Slippery Rock went 16-7 at Critchfield Park overall and 8-1 vs. teams from outside the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division. SRU has won four of its first seven home games in 2026.

ROCK GOING FOR HISTORIC START
If Slippery Rock were to sweep this weekend's series from Mansfield it would improve SRU's record to 11-3, tying this year's team for the fourth best 14-game start to a season under head coach Jeff Messer.
 
Best 14-Game Starts Under Jeff Messer
t1. 13-1 (2005)
t1. 13-1 (1989)
3. 12-2 (1993)
t4. 11-3 (2007)
t4. 11-3 (2021)
t4. 11-3 (2022)
 
THE ROCK IN BRIEF
• Through 10 games, Slippery Rock has averaged 6.6 runs per game while yielding 5.2.
 
• Offensively, SRU holds a team slash line of .301/.391/.439. 29 of The Rock's 89 hits in 2026 have been of the extra base variety (21 doubles / 4 triples / 4 home runs).
 
• On the mound, The Rock's pitching staff ranks fifth in Division II in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.93), 11th in walks allowed per nine innings (3.33) and 21st in strikeouts per nine innings (9.7).  
 
• Slippery Rock has owned the middle stages of games as its scored 27 runs over the fourth and fifth innings of contests while allowing just nine (+18). SRU also tends to start quick with 13 first-inning runs.

GILLOTT AMONG D2'S BEST IN ON-BASE %, AVERAGE
Few athletes have enjoyed a better start to their seasons than left fielder Gage Gillott. Simply, put Gillott has done everything well for The Rock. He's collected hits in all 10 games for SRU en route to batting .485 with a .614 on-base percentage and a .667 slugging percentage.
 
The Rock's leadoff hitter has scored eight runs with one home run, nine RBIs and five stolen bases. Across the entirety of Division II, Gillott ranks fifth in the country on-base percentage and 12th in batting average.

HARE SHINES IN 2ND START
The highlight of last week's pitching performances for Slippery Rock belonged to freshman Zachary Hare, who was stellar in his second collegiate start. Facing West Virginia State in the series deciding game, the highly touted rookie tossed 4.2 shutout innings with 10 strikeouts and just three walks and two hits allowed to spearhead a 7-1 Rock win: Hare's first in a SRU uniform.  

ROCK STEADY PRODUCTION FROM CALLAHAN AND POWELL
Without a doubt, the duo of right fielder Darryn Callahan and first baseman Stone Powell have been two of the most consistent hitters in The Rock's lineup over the first three weeks of the season.
 
In what is shaping up to be a career year, Callahan has hit safely in nine of 10 games while sporting a .400 batting average and .486 on-base percentage as well as a team-high tying .667 slugging percentage to go with 11 runs, one home run, four RBIs and a stolen base. Five of Callahan's 12 hits have been for extra bases (3 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run).
 
Not far off Callahan's production is Powell, who has slashed .382/.462/.500 while also tallying hits in nine of 10 games alongside seven runs and five RBIs. Powell ranks second for SRU in doubles at four, one off Nemeth's team-best five.

NEMETH TURNING INTO A DOUBLES MACHINE
After going without a hit in his first 13 at-bats of the season, catcher Treston Nemeth has been the definition of a tough out of late with 10 hits and one walk over SRU's last six games. Among his 10 hits have been a team season-high five doubles.
 
Nemeth, who is hitting .270 with a .325 on-base percentage overall, is tied with Gillott for the team-lead in RBIs at nine.

WILBUR CLIMBING CAREER RANKINGS
Veteran relief pitcher Mark Wilbur is quickly rising the rankings in several Slippery Rock career record lists. Entering the weekend, Wilbur sits fourth in career saves (12) and 12th in career appearances (44) as well as needing 32 more strikeouts to crack the program's career strikeout ledger.
 
Additionally, Wilbur has finished 28 career games – the third most by any Rock pitcher since 2008.

KITKO'S ON BASE STREAK UP TO 16
Michael Kitko is off to another great start at the plate this season, hitting .320 with a .387 on-base percentage, six runs scored, one home run and seven RBIs. Kitko has also reached base in all eight of his starts as a position player, which combined with his end to the 2025 season has upped his active reached base streak to 16 games.
 
Kitko needs to add seven games to his current streak to move into a tie for seventh place on The Rock's reached base streak list (since 2012). No stranger to the list, Kitko already occupies fourth place on the ledger after reaching base in 28 consecutive games between 2024 2025.
 
Reached Base Streaks at SRU (Since 2012)
1: Joe Campagna (2018-19) - 47
2: Will Kengor (2013) - 41
3: Adam Urbania (2015) - 34
t4: Connor Hamilton (2022) - 28
t4: Michael Kitko (2024-25) - 28
6: Alex Bell (2016) - 26
t7: Ty Zimmerman (2016) - 23
t7: Derek Carr (2012) – 23
Top Active: Michael Kitko (2025-26) - 16
 
BILLOTTE HEATING UP
Centerfielder Morgen Billotte's last four appearances have been bountiful games played for the Lock Haven transfer. He's gone 6-for-15 (.400) at the plate over that time frame with three runs scored and three RBIs. Among the six hits have been two doubles and one triple.

BERNADOWSKI UNLEASHES FIRST HOME RUN
Second baseman Max Bernadowski had a very productive series against West Virginia State, driving in five of The Rock's 23 runs scored over the weekend while registering four hits. Among his quartet of hits was a double and his first collegiate home run.
 
In 10 games this season, Bernadowski is hitting .267 with a .361 on-base percentage, nine runs scored, one home run and six RBIs.

FOX MAKES FIRST START
After not appearing in a game during his true freshman season, infielder Aari Fox has appeared in four of The Rock's first 10 games in 2026. Included in the four appearances were three starts at shortstop in the West Virginia State series.  
 
At the plate, Fox collected one hit, scored three runs and earned three walks all the while not committing an error in the field.
 
THE ROCK ROTATION
Slippery Rock's starting rotation has consisted of Hare, Nate Malak, Michael Kitko and Cole Grady over the opening 10 games of 2026.
 
• Malak (1-1, 7.53 ERA, 14 K / 4 BB) and Kitko (0-0, 8.44 ERA, 13 K / 4 BB) have been SRU's opening two starters through the first three weekends of the year. The two veteran pitchers have combined to pitch 25 innings (Malak-14.1 / Kitko-10.2).
 
• SRU's other two starting pitchers to date have been Hare (1-0, 1.17 ERA, 11 K / 7 BB, 7.2 IP) and Cole Grady (0-0, 7.27 ERA, 5 K / 4 BB). Opponents are hitting just .179 off Hare through his first 7.2 collegiate innings pitched.

THE ROCK BULLPEN
Four SRU relief pitchers have made at least three appearances in the early stages of the season.
 
• Leading the way out of the bullpen is Wilbur. The Rock's closer is 1-1 with three saves and a 3.27 ERA over 11 innings pitched. Wilbur has struck out 11 batters while surrounding just two walks. Only two of his 14 hits allowed this season have gone for extra bases. He is also yet to allow an inherited runner to score. Nationally, Wilbur ranks 14th in the country in saves.
 
• Joey Vanzin has pitched in four games this season, going 1-1 with a 4.00 ERA and .235 opponent batting average over nine innings. Vanzin is tied with Kitko for second on the team in strikeouts with 13 while having issued just one walk.
 
• The duo of Parker Hogge and Nolan Comerford have also been relied upon early on.
 
• Hogge is 2-0 with a 4.76 ERA and six strikeouts through 5.2 innings, with Comerford limiting opponents to a .167 opponent batting average while sporting a 0.00 ERA in 3.1 innings. Only one of the four runners Comerford has inherited this season has scored.
 
• Kyle Warnsman (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.2 IP) has also made two appearances for The Rock.

HITTING WHEN IT MATTERS (RISP)
1. Treston Nemeth: .500 (7-14)
t2. Jake Robinson: .400 (4-10)
t2. Morgen Billotte: .400 (4-10)
4. Gage Gillott: .364 (4-11)
5. Darryn Callahan: .333 (3-9)
6. Michael Kitko: .308 (4-13)

MESSER 13 WINS FROM ANOTHER MILESTONE
Slippery Rock head coach Jeff Messer enters the Mansfield series with 1,161 wins, just 13 away from tying John Goelz (Sonoma State, 1985-24) for seventh place Division II baseball's career wins ledger.
 
DII Coaching Wins (All-Time)
1. John Schaly (Ashland, Active): 1,360
2. Mike Metheny (Southeastern Ok., 1981-17): 1,324
3. Joe Roberts (Armstrong, 1980-13): 1,314
4. Tom Thomas (Valdosta State, 1968-07): 1,308
5. Charlie Migl (St. Mary's, 1987-21): 1,246
6. Greg Guilliams (Flagler, Active): 1,223
7. John Goelz (Sonoma State, 1985-24): 1,174
8. Jeff Messer (Slippery Rock): 1,161
9. Mike Sansing (Shorter/Kennesaw, 1989-21): 1,158
10. Carl Lancaster (Mount Olive, 1987-18): 1,134
 
DII Coaching Wins (Active)
1. John Schaly (Ashland): 1,360
2. Greg Guilliams (Flagler): 1,223
3. Jeff Messer (Slippery Rock): 1,161
4. Chris Hanks (Colorado Mesa): 1,129
5. Joe Urso (Tampa): 1,078
 
RECORD WATCH
Saves
1. Wyatt Daugherty (2016-19): 18
2. John Kovalik (2011-14): 16
3. Ken Ord (1987-90): 14
4. Mark Wilbur: 12
------
t12. Michael Kitko: 4
t12. James Divosevic (2014-17): 5
t12. Brad Tomco (1999-00): 5
t12. Dan Herisko (2005-06): 5
16. Joey Vanzin: 4
 
UPCOMING STAT MILESTONES FOR SRU
Innings Pitched
Nate Malak: 6 from 150
Gage Gillott: 14.1 from 125
Parker Hogge: 3.1 from 100
Mark Wilbur: 6.2 from 100
Strikeouts
Nate Malak: 22 from 150
Mark Wilbur: 24 from 125
Gage Gillott: 2 from 100
Parker Hogge: 21 from 100
Runs Scored
Gage Gillott: 4 from 75
Michael Kitko: 14 from 75
Hits
Gage Gillott: 15 from 125
Michael Kitko: 23 from 125
Brandon Butler: 12 from 100
Doubles
Gage Gillott: 6 from 25
Michael Kitko: 7 from 25
RBI
Michael Kitko: 13 from 75
Games Played
Michael Kitko: 3 from 100
Brandon Butler: 11 from 100
Gage Gillott: 15 from 100
*Only stats for games played at SRU
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
March 17: at West Liberty
March 20: at Seton Hill (DH Game 1)
March 20: at Seton Hill (DH Game 2)
March 21: vs. Seton Hill (DH Game 1)
March 21: vs. Seton Hill (DH Game 2)
 
MANSFIELD PRIMER
• Stats: Link
• Roster: Link
• Overall Record: 8-7
• Home Record: 0-0
• Away Record: 5-6
• Neutral Site Record: 3-1
• Streak: W1
• Last 5 Games: 4-1
• Head Coach: Andrew Chalot | Seventh season (88-159 / .356)
 
SCOUTING THE MOUNTIES
• After winning more than 15 games in a season just once over the last seven years, Mansfield has jumped out to an 8-7 start in 2026. Most recently, Mansfield went 3-1 at the Wilson Tournament by defating Clarion twice and splitting two games with Chestnut Hill.  
 
• Offensively, Mansfield has been held below five runs in a game just three times this season on the way to averaging 6.8 runs per contest. The Mounties rank third in the PSAC in both total hits (141) and doubles (26).
 
• On the mound, Mansfield carries a 5.22 team ERA. Opponents have scored 5.3 runs per game against the Mounties on a .255 batting average, .380 on-base percentage and just under one home run per game (14).
 
TOP HITTERS
Slade Mctigue: .455 (20-44) – 13 Runs – 1 HR - 13 RBI – 6 SB - .590 OB%
Michael Palmer: .325 (13-40) – 10 Runs – 1 HR - 10 RBI - .453 OB%
Ryan Sekulski: .317 (20-63) – 11 Runs – 1 HR - 13 RBI - .386 OB%
Kahale Burns: .310 (18-58) – 16 Runs – 1 HR - 10 RBI – 17 SB - .420 OB%
 
TOP PITCHERS
Tyler Swineford: 2-0 – 20 IP – 1.35 ERA –  14 K / 10 BB - .181 OBA
Quinn Shindler: 1-2 – 17 IP – 3.18 ERA –  20 K / 10 BB - .246 OBA
Garrett Emerick: 1-1 – 20.1 IP – 7.08 ERA –  19 K / 8 BB - .316 OBA
Austin Beauchamp: 0-0 – 14.2 IP – 12.89 ERA –  16 K / 12 BB - .328 OBA
Matt Rader: 0-1, 3 Saves – 9.1 IP – 5.79 ERA –  7 K / 9 BB - .237 OBA
 
LAST 5 GAMES
March 7: vs. Clarion (W, 8-3)
March 6: vs. Chestnut Hill (L, 6-5)
March 6: vs. Clarion (W, 8-7)
March 5: vs. Chestnut Hill (W, 4-1)
March 1: at Holy Family (W, 8-2)
 
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock is scheduled to play a sinlge nine-inning game at West Liberty University 3 p.m. March 17.





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