SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University baseball team will step out of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division competition for a non-conference game 3 p.m. Tuesday at Walsh University.
 
MOTHER NATURE IS UNPREDICTABLE
With the unpredictable spring weather in western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio, fans are reminded that any time / location / date changes will be posted on rockathletics.com and all of SRU athletics' official social media accounts as information becomes available.
 
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.
 
Any Rock baseball alumni interested in attending the ceremony as well as a pre-game get together and free lunch at the Alumni Pavilion are asked to RSVP by April 17 HERE.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Video and in-game statistics for Tuesday's non-conference game will be available by following the links in the Game Details section below.
 
$$ FLOSPORTS PAY-PER-VIEW GAME $$
Fans must have a FloSports subscription to watch Tuesday's game and can only access the live video on the FloSports website linked below or the FloSports mobile or television apps. There are no single-game purchase options. Fans must subscribe for at least one month to be able to watch the game. Monthly subscriptions to FloSports are $19.99 per month or $107.88 per year. Discounts ($9.99 per month) are available to subscribers with .edu email addresses. Signup information available HERE.
 
GAME 33 DETAILS
Opponent: Walsh University
Date: Tuesday - 3 p.m.
Location: Biery Stadium – North Canton, Ohio
Watch ($): Link
Live Stats: Link
All-Time Series: SRU leads 12-8
Last Played: March 24, 2026 (SRU won 5-0)
 
SERIES HISTORY
Slippery Rock has recorded three consecutive victories over Walsh – including a 5-0 shutout at Critchfield Park earlier in the season – to improve its all-time record against the Cavaliers to 12-8.
 
Top Rock Performers vs. Walsh
Stone Powell: .417 (5-12) – 3 Runs – 1 HR – 3 RBI – 2 2B (3 Games)
Michael Kitko: .400 (4-10) – 1 Run – 2 RBI (3 Games)
Gage Gillott: .308 (4-13) – 3 Runs – 1 RBI – 3 2B – 1 BB – 1 SB (3 Games)
Brandon Butler: .300 (3-10) – 1 Run – 1 BB (3 Games)
Treston Nemeth: .500 (3-6) – 3 Runs – 1 RBI – 3 BB (2 Games)
Jake Robinson: .500 (2-4) (1 Game)
 
LAST MEETING (Box Score)
Slippery Rock returned to its winning ways with a 5-0 shutout victory over Walsh March 24 at Critchfield Park.
 
Stone Powell led a quartet of Rock batters that collected multi-hit games against Walsh by going 3-for-4 with one run scored, one home run, two RBIs and a walk.
 
Gage Gillott recorded a pair of doubles as part of a 2-for-4, two-run, one-walk day at the plate and Michael Kitko went 2-for-3 with one run, one RBI and a triple. Jake Robinson also went 2-for-4.
 
Darryn Callahan launched his third home run of the season, a towering solo shot down the right field line in the first inning.
 
Kyle Warnsman made his first start of the season, striking out three while scattering three hits and two walks over three innings before giving way to Nolan Comerford, who did not surrender a hit in his two innings of work that included two strikeouts.
 
Owen Malak and Tyler Slone each pitched one inning as well followed by Carter Wilson recording two outs in the eighth before giving way to Joey Vanzin, who silenced a potentially serious Walsh comeback bid by registering a clutch strikeout with the bases loaded before working out of another bases loaded jam in the ninth to close out the win.
 
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
• Stats: Link
• Roster: Link
• Overall Record: 18-14
• Home Record: 12-8
• Away Record: 3-6
• Neutral Site Record: 3-0
• Streak: L3
• Last 5 Games: 2-3
• Head Coach: Jeff Messer | 41st season (1,172-774-5 / .602)
 
ROCK LEADERS
Hitting
Hits: Stone Powell – 41
Runs: Gage Gillott – 29
Doubles: Stone Powell – 14
Home Runs: Powell / Kitko/ Callahan – 4
RBIs: Michael Kitko – 32
Walks: Gage Gillott – 26
Batting Average: Jake Robinson – .391
On-Base %: Gage Gillott – .489
Slugging %: Stone Powell – .600
OPS: Stone Powell – 1.029
 
Pitching
Wins: Warnsman / Hogge / Hare – 3
Saves: Joey Vanzin / Mark Wilbur - 4
ERA: Cole Grady – 3.10
WHIP: Cole Grady - 1.31
Opp. Batting Average: Cole Grady – .223
Innings Pitched: Parker Hogge – 29.2
Strikeouts: Cole Grady / Zachary Hare – 35
 
LAST TIME OUT
Slippery Rock dropped three of four games in a weekend series against Gannon University. All four of the games were decided by two runs or less.
 
Game 1: SRU 10 – GU 8
Game 2: GU 1 – SRU 0
Game 3: GU 8 – SRU 6
Game 4: GU 5 – SRU 4
 
CLOSE CALLS
Eight of The Rock's 14 losses this season have been by no more than two runs.
 
MIDWEEK SUCCESS
Tuesday's game against Walsh marks The Rock's third midweek game of the 2026 season: SRU has already earned a 5-0 home win over Walsh and a 13-5 victory over Fairmont State on the road. Slippery Rock is 22-9 in midweek games over the last four years.
 
SRU will play two more midweek games following Tuesday's contest: April 21 at Ashland University and April 28 versus Point Park at Critchfield Park.  
 
Slippery Rock has won 10 consecutive midweek regular season games dating back to the end of 2024.
 
Midweek Winning Streak
2026: Fairmont State (13-5)
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)
 
SLIPPERY ROCK SNAPSHOT
• Through 32 games, Slippery Rock has averaged 7.1 runs per game while giving up 4.9.
 
• On the mound, The Rock's pitching staff ranks 13th in the nation in strikeouts per nine innings (9.5), and 15th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.40).
 
• Offensively, SRU holds a team slash line of .324/.416/.485. Slippery Rock is 28th in the country doubles per game (2.25) and 37th in batting average.
 
• Slippery Rock has owned the middle stages of games as its scored 75 runs over the fourth and fifth innings of contests while allowing 41 (+34).
 
STACKING UP EXTRA-BASE HITS
103 of The Rock's 312 hits (33 percent) in 2026 have been of the extra base variety (72 doubles / 10 triples / 21 home runs). For context, SRU's percentage of hits that went for extra bases in 2025 was .267 and in 2024 was .312.
 
HITTING WHEN IT MATTERS (RISP)
1. Jake Robinson: .533 (16-30)
2. Treston Nemeth: .471 (16-34)
3. Michael Kitko: .439 (18-41)
4. Gage Gillott: .400 (12-30)
5. Stone Powell: .386 (17-44)
6. Morgen Billotte: .350 (7-20)
 
ROCK PITCHING (MIDWEEK EDITION)
Slippery Rock has used seven different pitchers in its midweek victories this season over Walsh and Fairmont State.
 
• Kyle Warnsman has started each game, picking up both decisions while allowing just two earned runs over six innings.
 
• Joey Vanzin (2.1 IP) and Tyler Slone (3.2 IP) have also both pitched in the two games. Vanzin has one save, three strikeouts and a .222 opponent batting average, while Slone has also struck out four batters.
 
• Others that have made midweek pitching appearances against either Walsh or Fairmont State include Michael Cahill (2.1 IP, 0 ER, 3 K, .000 OBA), Nolan Comerford (2 IP, 0 R, 2 K, .000 OBA), Owen Malak (1 IP, 0 R) and Carter Wilson (0.2 IP, 1 K, .000 OBA).
 
ROCK BATTERS
C: Treston Nemeth is The Rock's primary catcher. He's started 29 games behind the plate in 2026. In addition to being one of three Rock hitters with double-digit double totals this season (10), Nemeth is also batting .340 with 16 runs, one home run, 22 RBIs and a .412 on-base percentage.
 
• Backup catcher Landon Hamer started the Walsh and Fairmont State games. He had one hit against Walsh before scoring two runs and walking three times at Fairmont State.
 
1B: The lone Rock infielder to have started all 32 games this season, Stone Powell opens the week batting .357 with 24 runs, four home runs, 25 RBIs and a .429 on-base percentage. Powell holds sole possession in team leads for The Rock in hits (41) and slugging percentage (.600) while being tied for the team lead in home runs.
 
2B: One half of a strong defensive middle infield unit, Clay Wiesen has started 22 consecutive games for SRU. In addition to his defensive prowess, Wiesen bats .329 with 20 runs, two home runs and eight RBIs. Wiesen, who hit a home run during the Gannon series, brings a 10-game hitting streak into Tuesday's game.
 
3B: Slippery Rock has used a platoon of Max Bernadowski (17 starts), Brandon Butler (10 starts) and Brett Galcik (5 starts) at third base. Bernadowski, a .288 hitter with .385 on-base percentage, is one of six Rock athletes to have scored 20+ runs already with 21 to go with two home runs and 12 RBIs.
 
SS: Jake Robinson has made all 29 of his starts at shortstop and begins the week as the hottest hitter in The Rock's lineup. Robinson, who hit a walk off home run to propel SRU to its win in the Gannon series, is now hitting .391 with a .483 on-base percentage, 28 runs, one home run and 27 RBIs.
 
LF: One of the top all-around talents in the entire Atlantic Region, Gage Gillott can play anywhere in the outfield (22 starts in left field / 5 in centerfield) all the while posting a stat line of .355/.489/.533, 29 runs, two home runs, 24 RBIs, 13 doubles and seven stolen bases.
 
CF: Centerfield are handled by Morgen Billotte (16 starts - .260/.351./.340, 14 Runs, 10 RBIs), Luke Anderton (11 starts - .308/.400./.359, 11 Runs, 9 RBIs) and Gillott (5 starts).
 
RF: Darryn Callahan has been The Rock's starting right fielder in 30 of 32 games. One of three SRU batters with four home runs, Callahan is also hitting .319 with a .429 on-base percentage, 19 runs and 22 RBIs.
 
DH: Of Michael Kitko's 29 starts in 2026, 23 have come as The Rock's designated hitter. Few hitters in The Rock's lineup has been as consistent as Kitko, who heads to Ohio batting .382 with 20 runs, four home runs, 32 RBIs, a .402 on-base percentage and .562 slugging percentage. He also ranks 10th in Division II in the NCAA's Toughest to Strike Out stat with just one strikeout every 17.5 at-bats. When not serving as SRU's DH, Kitko has made six starts as a corner outfielder.
 
MESSER TWO WINS FROM ANOTHER MILESTONE
Slippery Rock head coach Jeff Messer begins the week with 1,172 wins, just two victories 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): 1,372
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): 1,235
7. John Goelz (Sonoma State, 1985-24): 1,174
8. Jeff Messer (Slippery Rock): 1,172
9. Mike Sansing (Shorter/Kennesaw, 1989-21): 1,158
10. Chris Hanks (Colorado Mesa, Active): 1,149
 
DII Coaching Wins (Active)
1. John Schaly (Ashland): 1,374
2. Greg Guilliams (Flagler): 1,235
3. Jeff Messer (Slippery Rock): 1,172
4. Chris Hanks (Colorado Mesa): 1,149
5. Joe Urso (Tampa): 1,092
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
April 17: vs. Lock Haven (DH Game 1)
April 17: vs. Lock Haven (DH Game 2)
April 18: at Lock Haven (DH Game 1)
April 18: at Lock Haven (DH Game 2)
April 21: at Ashland

WALSH PRIMER
• Stats: Link
• Roster: Link
• Overall Record: 18-15
• Home Record: 4-4
• Away Record: 13-5
• Neutral Site Record: 1-6
• Streak: L1
• Last 5 Games: 4-1
• Head Coach: Tim Mead | 41st season (977-985-7 / .498)
 
LAST 5 GAMES
April 12: vs. Thomas More (L, 6-2)
April 12: vs. Thomas More (W, 8-7)
April 11: at Thomas More (W, 8-4)
April 11: at Thomas More (W, 8-1)
April 8: at Malone (W, 8-7)
 
TOP HITTERS
Brodey Acres: .352 (44-125) – 38 Runs – 5 HR - 29 RBI – 9 SB - .465 OB%
Chris Kramer: .341 (42-123) – 27 Runs – 3 HR - 32 RBI – 20 SB - .412 OB%
Mason Stoldt: .322 (38-118) – 30 Runs – 9 HR - 37 RBI – 7 SB - .432 OB%
Josh Algarin: .316 (37-117) – 31 Runs – 1 HR – 20 RBI – 5 SB - .424 OB%
 
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock embarks on a four-game PSAC West series against Lock Haven. The Rock hosts the Bald Eagles for two games Friday before traveling to Lock Haven for a Saturday doubleheader. First pitch of game one on both day sis set for 1 p.m.





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