SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Winners in four of its past five games, the Slippery Rock University baseball team heads to Mylan Park in Morgantown, West Virginia for a Tuesday non-conference game against Fairmont State University. First pitch is scheduled for noon.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Video and in-game statistics for Tuesday's game will be available at the links below.
 
GAME DETAILS
Game #: 24
Opponent: Fairmont State University
Date: Tuesday (Noon) – Mylan Park
Video: Link
Live Stats: Link
All-Time Series: SRU leads 7-0
Last Played: April 7, 2012 (SRU swept DH)
 
SERIES HISTORY
While Slippery Rock holds a perfect 7-0 record against Fairmont State all-time, Tuesday's game marks the first contest between The Rock and Falcons since April 7, 2012.
 
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
• Stats: Link
• Roster: Link
• NCBWA Atlantic Region Top 10: 8th
• Overall Record: 14-9
• Home Record: 10-6
• Away Record: 1-3
• Neutral Site Record: 3-0
• Streak: W3
• Last 5 Games: 4-1
• Head Coach: Jeff Messer | 41st season (1,168-769-5 / .603)
 
LAST TIME OUT
Slippery Rock took three of four games from Pitt-Johnstown for SRU's first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division series victory of 2026. After splitting a doubleheader at UPJ, Slippery Rock swept a home doubleheader with 25-1 and 2-1 victories at Critchfield Park.
 
Game 1: UPJ 3 – SRU 1
Game 2: SRU 5 – UPJ 3
Game 3: SRU 25 – UPJ 1
Game 4: SRU 2 – UPJ 1
 
A HISTORIC DAY AT CRITCHFIELD PARK
Slippery Rock's 25-1 victory in game three of the Pitt-Johnstown series was a near record-breaking day. The 25 runs represented the fourth-highest single-game run total in program history while the 24-run win was SRU's second largest margin of victory all-time.
 
MESSER FIELD DEDICATION SET FOR APRIL 25
At the beginning of the 2025-26 academic year Slippery Rock University's council of trustees approved a naming resolution to honor SRU baseball head coach Jeff Messer. Slippery Rock's home facility collectively will be named "Messer Field at Jack Critchfield Park." The official field dedication will take place prior to the start of The Rock's April 25 doubleheader against Clarion.
 
MIDWEEK SUCCESS
Tuesday's game against Fairmont State marks The Rock's second midweek game of the 2026 season: SRU has already earned a 5-0 March 24 win over Walsh University. Slippery Rock is 21-9 in midweek games over the last four years.
 
SRU will be busy on Tuesdays throughout the remainder of the year as midweek games against Walsh (April 14 / Away), Ashland (April 21 / Away) and Point Park (April 28 / Home) are still on the docket.
 
Slippery Rock has won nine consecutive midweek regular season games dating back to the end of 2024.
 
Midweek Winning Streak
2026: Walsh (5-0)
2025: Point Park (13-9)
2025: Ashland (7-6)
2025: West Liberty (10-0)
2025: Cedarville (7-6)
2025: Walsh (8-5)
2025: Mansfield (5-2)
2025: Walsh (5-3)
2024: Notre Dame College (14-1)
 
THE ROCK IN BRIEF
• Through 23 games, Slippery Rock has averaged 7.2 runs per game while giving up 4.8.
 
• On the mound, The Rock's pitching staff ranks sixth in the nation in strikeouts per nine innings (10.1), ninth in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.55) and 32nd in walks allowed per nine innings (3.98).
 
• Offensively, SRU holds a team slash line of .315/.410/.482. 78 of The Rock's 216 hits (36.1 percent) in 2026 have been of the extra base variety (55 doubles / 10 triples / 13 home runs). For context, SRU's percentage of hits that went for extra bases in 2025 was .267 and in 2024 was .312.
 
• Slippery Rock has owned the middle stages of games as its scored 54 runs over the fourth and fifth innings of contests while allowing 27 (+27).

THE ROCK LINEUP
• Catcher Treston Nemeth has started 22 of 23 games for SRU. In addition to solid defense behind the plate, Nemeth is hitting .333 with a .407 on-base percentage, 13 runs scored and 16 RBIs.
 
• First baseman Stone Powell has easily avoided any sort of sophomore slump as he has built on a great foundation set in his freshman year with a stellar 2026 campaign. Entering Tuesday, Powell has a slash line of .407/.479/.691 with 19 runs, three home runs and 20 RBIs. 16 of his 33 hits this year have gone for extra bases (12 doubles, 3 home runs, 1 triple).
 
• Slippery Rock possess one of the top all-around middle infield duos in the Atlantic Region in second baseman Clay Wiesen and shortstop Jake Robinson. In addition to stellar defense, the pair have combined to score 30 runs with 32 hits and 21 RBIs.
 
• The Rock has used three third basemen this season in Brandon Butler (10 starts / 9 RBIs), Max Bernadowski (8 starts, .269/.371./.481, 15 runs, 2 home runs, 9 RBIs) and Brett Galcik (5 starts, .300/.391/.500, 6 runs, 2 RBIs).
 
• One of the premiere players in the entire Atlantic Region, left fielder Gage Gillott is in the midst of another great season for SRU. The Rock's leadoff hitter has started all 23 games and opens the week batting .351 with a .505 on-base percentage, .500 slugging percentage, 18 runs, one home run, 12 RBIs and seven stolen bases.
 
• Centerfield has largely been split between Morgen Billotte (15 starts) and Luke Anderton (7 starts). Billotte has scored 13 runs while driving in 10 more while Anderton has registered hits in nine of his 28 at-bats this season.
 
• Darryn Callahan has made 22 of his 23 starts in right field. Another of The Rock's breakout athletes in 2026, Callahan is currently hitting .353 with a .450 on-base percentage, 15 runs, three home runs and 18 RBIs while slugging .588.
 
• Michael Kitko can play either corner outfield position, but has served as The Rock's primary designated hitter in 2026. Kitko, who drove in six runs as part of The Rock's 25-1 victory against Pitt-Johnstown carries a .342 batting average into Tuesday's game which comes along with 15 runs, two home runs, 21 RBIs, a .375 on-base percentage and a .534 slugging percentage.
 
HITTING WHEN IT MATTERS (RISP)
1. Treston Nemeth: .500 (13-26)
2. Jake Robinson: .455 (10-22)
3. Stone Powell: .444 (12-27)
4. Michael Kitko: .433 (13-30)
5. Morgen Billotte: .350 (7-20)
6. Darryn Callahan: .321 (9-28)
 
ROCK PITCHING
• Slippery Rock used six pitchers in its March 24 midweek game against Walsh.
 
• Making his first career start, Kyle Warnsman earned the win after tossing three shutout innings that included three strikeouts and just three hits allowed. Over four appearances in 2026, Warnsman is 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA and five strikeouts in 7.0 innings of work.
 
• One of the top middle relievers on the roster, freshman Nolan Comerford also pitched two scoreless innings against Walsh. In addition to logging a three-inning save in SRU's 25-1 win against Pitt-Johnstown, Comerford has pitched 11 innings in his first eight collegiate appearances. He sports a 0.82 ERA, .158 opponent batting average and 16 strikeouts with only three walks allowed.
 
• The youthful trio of Owen Malak (1 IP), Tyler Slone (1 IP) and Carter Wilson (0.2 IP) all saw time against Walsh as well. The trio is yet to allow an earned run in 5.2 total innings pitched this season.
 
• Joey Vanzin was the last pitcher used in the Walsh victory. A key arm in the backend of The Rock's bullpen, Vanzin is 1-1 with three saves, a 3.44 ERA and 25 strikeouts over 18.1 innings pitched across nine appearances this year. His seven career saves are tied for the eighth most in program history.
 
MESSER SIX WINS FROM ANOTHER MILESTONE
Slippery Rock head coach Jeff Messer begins the week with 1,168 wins, just six away from tying John Goelz (Sonoma State, 1985-24) for seventh place on Division II baseball's career wins ledger.
 
DII Coaching Wins (All-Time)
1. John Schaly (Ashland, Active): 1,369
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): 1,230
7. John Goelz (Sonoma State, 1985-24): 1,174
8. Jeff Messer (Slippery Rock): 1,168
9. Mike Sansing (Shorter/Kennesaw, 1989-21): 1,158
10. Chris Hanks (Colorado Mesa, Active): 1,141
 
DII Coaching Wins (Active)
1. John Schaly (Ashland): 1,369
2. Greg Guilliams (Flagler): 1,230
3. Jeff Messer (Slippery Rock): 1,168
4. Chris Hanks (Colorado Mesa): 1,141
5. Joe Urso (Tampa): 1,088
 
RECORD WATCH
Saves
1. Wyatt Daugherty (2016-19): 18
2. John Kovalik (2011-14): 16
3. Ken Ord (1987-90): 14
4. Mark Wilbur: 13
t5. Matt Jones (1993-95): 9
t5. Ryan Oglesby (2011-15): 9
7. Tim Dickinson (1991-92): 8
t8. Joey Vanzin: 7
t8. Andy McClymonds (2019-22): 7
t8. Travis Holman (2021-22): 7
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
April 3: at IUP (DH Game 1)
April 3: at IUP (DH Game 2)
April 4: vs. IUP (DH Game 1)
April 4: vs. IUP (DH Game 2)
April 10: at Gannon (DH Game 1)
 
FAIRMONT STATE PRIMER
• Stats: Link
• Roster: Link
• Overall Record: 13-11
• Home Record: 9-7
• Away Record: 4-4
• Streak: W1
• Last 5 Games: 3-2
• Head Coach: Matt Yurish | Fifth season at FSU (98-125 / .439)
 
LAST 5 GAMES
March 29: vs. West Virginia Wesleyan (W, 6-1)
March 29: vs. West Virginia Wesleyan (L, 8-6)
March 28: vs. Davis & Elkins (W, 5-3)
March 28: vs. Davis & Elkins (W, 9-0)
March 24: vs. IUP (L, 5-4)
 
TOP HITTERS
Bryont Green: .375 (33-88) – 18 Runs – 3 HR - 24 RBI – 7 SB - .44 OB%
Cameron Moore: .338 (24-71) – 17 Runs – 3 HR - 15 RBI – .484 OB%
TJ Hughes: .318 (21-66) – 10 Runs – 2 HR – 14 RBI - .444 OB%
Reilly Bubb: .317 (20-63) – 18 Runs – 9 RBI – 14 SB - .511 OB%
Cam Cole: .311 (28-90) – 20 Runs – 14 RBI – 16 SB - .392 OB%
 
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock returns to PSAC West competition for a four-game series against Indiana University (Pa.). The Rock travels to IUP for two games Friday before hosting the Crimson Hawks for a doubleheader Saturday at Critchfield Park. First pitch of game one is set for 1 p.m. on both days.
 
 
 
 
 
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