SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University baseball team begins the penultimate week of the 2026 regular season 3 p.m. Tuesday with a nine-inning road game at Ashland 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.
 
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. 
 
GAME 38 DETAILS
Opponent: Ashland University
Date: Tuesday - 3 p.m.
Location: Tomassi Stadium – Ashland, Ohio
Watch ($): Link
Live Stats: Link
All-Time Series: AU leads 13-11
Last Played: April 22, 2025 (SRU won 7-6)
 
SERIES HISTORY
The Rock and Eagles have played three times over the last three years, with SRU taking two of the three contests to cut Ashland's record in the all-time series to 13-11. After not playing since 2016, SRU and AU split a home-and-home series in 2023 with each team winning on its respective home fields followed by a game a year ago at Ashland that SRU won, 7-6.
 
LAST MEETING (Box Score)
Slippery Rock overcame an early four-run deficit to earn a 7-6 road victory April 22, 2025 at Ashland.
 
The Rock matched a season-high with 16 hits against the Eagles. Of the 10 athletes to record an at-bat Tuesday, nine ended the outing with at least one hit led by a 3-for-6, two-run showing from Michael Kitko.
 
Jimmy Sadler (2-3), Treston Nemeth (2-4), Cam Panyko Morris (2-4), Clay Wiesen (2-5) and Brandon Butler (2-6) all compiled two-hit games. Wiesen and Panyko Morris produced two RBIs and one run scored apiece. Butler's two hits pushed his reached base streak to 17 games.
 
Gage Gillott, Stone Powell and Tyler Cerame all had hits as well with Powell tallying The Rock's lone extra-base hit of the game in the form of a double all the while reaching base two additional times via walks. Gillott scored one run, which turned out to be the game-winner.
 
SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
• Stats: Link
• Roster: Link
• Overall Record: 22-15
• Home Record: 14-8
• Away Record: 5-7
• Neutral Site Record: 3-0
• Streak: L1
• Last 5 Games: 4-1
• Head Coach: Jeff Messer | 41st season (1,176-775-5 / .603)
 
ROCK LEADERS
Hitting
Hits: Michael Kitko – 52
Runs: Gage Gillott – 40
Doubles: Stone Powell – 16
Home Runs: Stone Powell / Michael Kitko – 6
RBIs: Michael Kitko – 42
Walks: Gage Gillott – 28
Batting Average: Michael Kitko – .419
On-Base %: Gage Gillott – .485
Slugging %: Michael Kitko – .645
OPS: Michael Kitko – 1.109
 
Pitching
Wins: Grady / Warnsman / Hogge / Hare – 3
Saves: Joey Vanzin / Mark Wilbur - 4
ERA: Cole Grady – 2.91
WHIP: Joey Vanzin - 1.24
Opp. Batting Average: Cole Grady – .217
Innings Pitched: Cole Grady – 34
Strikeouts: Cole Grady – 45
 
LAST TIME OUT
Slippery Rock took three of four games against Lock Haven in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division weekend series. Slippery Rock scored 42 runs on 46 hits over the course of its series victory against the Bald Eagles. 14 of SRU's hits went for extra bases (10 doubles, three home runs, one triple).
 
Game 1: SRU 16 – LH 1
Game 2: SRU 11 – LH 2
Game 3: SRU 11 – LH 8 (8 Inn.)
Game 4: LH 5 – SRU 4 (8 Inn.)
 
KITKO GRABS WEEKLY AWARD
Michael Kitko was named the PSAC West Athlete of the Week, the league office announced Monday. Kitko earned the accolade after leading SRU to a 4-1 record last week with a non-conference victory at Walsh and a 3-1 PSAC West series win against Lock Haven.
 
In five games, Kitko hit .737 (14-for-19) with four runs scored, two home runs, 10 RBIs and a .783 on-base percentage.
 
Kitko had multiple hits in four of the five games with the highlights being a 5-for-5 performance in The Rock's 11-8 victory at Lock Haven (a game he also earned the win on the mound in) as well as a 4-for-4, one-home run, four-RBI showing at Walsh.
 
In addition to being the first Rock athlete to record a five-hit game since 2023, Kitko is also the first player inside the PSAC West to register five hits in a single-game since Mitchell Grosch did so for Mercyhurst versus D'Youville in 2024.
 
MIDWEEK SUCCESS
Tuesday's game against Ashland marks The Rock's fourth midweek game of the 2026 season: SRU has already earned two such wins against Walsh (5-0, 10-8) as well as a 13-5 victory over Fairmont State on the road. Slippery Rock is 23-9 in midweek games over the last four years.
 
SRU will play one more midweek game following Tuesday's contest: April 28 versus Point Park at Critchfield Park. 
 
Slippery Rock has won 11 consecutive midweek regular season games dating back to the end of 2024.
 
Midweek Winning Streak
2026: Walsh (10-8)
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-ASHLAND SNAPSHOT
• Through 37 games, Slippery Rock has averaged 7.5 runs per game while giving up 4.9.
 
• On the mound, The Rock's pitching staff ranks 14th in the nation in strikeouts per nine innings (9.4), and 16th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.36).
 
• Offensively, SRU holds a team slash line of .330/.418/.492. Slippery Rock is 27th in the country in batting average and 35th doubles per game (2.24).
 
• Ashland averages 6.8 runs per game while allowing 5.3.
 
MEETING OF COACHING GREATS
Tuesday's game will feature two of the top coaches in Division II history in The Rock's Jeff Messer and John Schaly of Ashland. Schaly is the winningest coach in Division II history while Messer moved into seventh place on the career DII wins ledger with 1,176 victories following SRU's success against Lock Haven.
 
DII Coaching Wins (All-Time)
1. John Schaly (Ashland, Active): 1,379
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): 1,238
7. Jeff Messer (Slippery Rock): 1,176
8. John Goelz (Sonoma State, 1985-24): 1,174
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): 1,379
2. Greg Guilliams (Flagler): 1,238
3. Jeff Messer (Slippery Rock): 1,176
4. Chris Hanks (Colorado Mesa): 1,153
5. Joe Urso (Tampa): 1,095
 
ROCK MIDWEEK PITCHING
Slippery Rock has used seven different pitchers in its first three midweek games of 2026.
 
• Kyle Warnsman (2-0, 3.00 ERA, 4 K, 6.0 IP) and Michael Cahill (0-0, 6.75 ERA, 3 K, 5.1 IP) have served as the starting pitchers in the three midweek games with Warnsman logging two starts and Cahill making his first collegiate start at Walsh. Opponents are hitting just .211 off Cahill in his 5.1 innings pitched.
 
• Tyler Slone is the lone Rock pitcher to appear in all three midweek games. He's pitched 5.2 innings in those games including earning his first collegiate victory in SRU's win at Walsh.
 
• Nolan Comerford (4.0 IP) and Joey Vanzin (2.1 IP) each have one save in two appearances during SRU's midweek games. The duo has not given up a run out of the bullpen in those games.
 
• Rounding out the arms used in midweek games this season for Slippery Rock are Carter Wilson (2 games, 1.2 IP) and Owen Malak (1 game, 1.0 IP).
 
THE ROCK LINEUP
C: While Treston Nemeth (.345/.417/.474, 19 Runs, 1 HR, 28 RBI) is Slippery Rock's starting catcher, Landon Hamer has started behind the plate in SRU's three midweek games this year. Overall, the freshman backup catcher has appeared in seven games while posting .409 on-base percentage with four runs scored, one home run and three RBIs.
 
1B: One of only two Rock athletes to have started all 37 games in the field this season, Stone Powell has been a model of consistency at first base. Powell has followed up a strong freshman campaign in 2025 with a stellar sophomore season in which he's slashed .358/.429/.627 with 32 runs, six home runs and 35 RBIs. Powell's 16 doubles and 0.43 doubles per game are a PSAC-best.  
 
2B: A great all-around threat, Clay Wiesen combines one of the best gloves in the Atlantic Region with a prowess at the plate that includes a .326 batting average, .382 on-base percentage, 23 runs, two home runs and nine RBIs.
 
3B: Max Bernadowski has made 32 starts primarily at third base. He's a .289 hitter with a .382 on-base percentage, 26 runs, two home runs and 13 RBIs.
 
SS: Jake Robinson has been great in his first year at The Rock. The Kent State transfer has not only played impressive defense, he's also been one of SRU's top hitters with 33 runs, one home run, 31 RBIs, four stolen bases, a .460 on-base percentage and a .381 batting average.
 
LF: Gage Gillott splits his time between left field, centerfield and as a member of The Rock's starting rotation. In the batter's box, Gillott is a virtual lock to get on base as evidenced by a .485 on-base percentage. As SRU's leadoff hitter, he has scored a team-best 40 runs, while hitting .354, belting two home runs and collecting 27 RBIs in addition to 15 doubles.
 
CF: When Gillott is not in centerfield, the duo of Morgen Billotte (.358 OB%, 19 runs, 11 RBIs, 21 GP) and Luke Anderton (.413 OB%, 12 runs, nine RBIs, 18 GP) split time at the position. Billotte scored six runs over the course of the Lock Haven series.
 
RF: A starter in 36 games, mostly in right field, Darryn Callahan has had the best season of his collegiate career. In addition to hitting .308 with a .417 on-base percentage and .514 slugging percentage, Callahan has scored 22 runs with four home runs and 27 RBIs.
 
DH: Michael Kitko splits his time between left field and as SRU's primary designated hitter. Kitko's outstanding five-game stretch that garnered the senior PSAC West Athlete of the Week honors, was just the latest accomplishment in what's been a career-year.
 
Kitko is among the PSAC's best in a plethora of offensive categories including RBI (42 / third), hits (52 / sixth), hits per game (1.41 / sixth), batting average (.419 / seventh), slugging percentage (.645 / 10th) and home runs (six / 11th). He also ranks seventh in the nation in Division II's "toughest to strikeout statistic" with one strikeout every 20.7 at-bats.
 
GET A LEAD, KEEP A LEAD
Slippery Rock is 19-2 when holding a lead after five innings.
 
THE ROCK'S RECORD WHEN…
When scoring 6+ Runs: 18-6
When holding opponents under 6 runs: 18-6
When Out-hitting opponent: 17-2
 
CLOSE CALLS
Nine of The Rock's 15 losses this season have been by two runs or less.
 
STACKING UP EXTRA-BASE HITS
120 of The Rock's 373 hits (32.2 percent) in 2026 have been of the extra base variety (83 doubles / 11 triples / 26 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. Treston Nemeth: .500 (20-40)
2. Michael Kitko: .479 (23-48)
3. Jake Robinson: .463 (19-41)
4. Stone Powell: .423 (22-52)
5. Gage Gillott: .417 (15-36)
6. Morgen Billotte: .348 (8-23)
 
HIT MACHINES
SRU enters the Ashland game having recorded double-digit hit totals in 13 of its last 17 games. With a minimum of 10 games left in the year, Slippery Rock is on pace to record 474 hits which would rank 16th in SRU single-season program history.
 
OWNING THE MIDDLE STAGES
Slippery Rock has owned the middle stages of games as its scored 97 runs over the fourth and fifth innings of contests while allowing 42 (+55).
 
ASHLAND PRIMER
• Stats: Link
• Roster: Link
• Overall Record: 28-13
• Home Record: 12-5
• Away Record: 9-4
• Neutral Site Record: 7-4
• Streak: W7
• Last 5 Games: 5-0
• Head Coach: John Schaly | 39th season (1,379-753-4 / .647)
 
LAST 5 GAMES
April 19: vs. Tiffin (W, 7-6)
April 18: vs. Tiffin (W, 7-6)
April 17: vs. Tiffin (W, 6-1)
April 17: vs. Tiffin (W, 3-2)
April 14: vs. Ohio Dominican (W, 17-10)
 
TOP ASHLAND HITTERS
Ryan Shimek: .360 (50-139) - 30 R - 5 HR - 33 RBI – 4 SB - .465 OB%
Colin Overholt: .345 (40-116) - 39 R - 6 HR - 26 RBI – 7 SB - .500 OB%
Drew Stevens: .309 (42-136) - 27 R - 5 HR - 28 RBI – .400 OB%
Chris Franks: .301 (43-143) - 40 R - 7 HR - 29 RBI – 13 SB - .436 OB%
Sean Krueckeberg: .301 (46-153) - 37 R - 7 HR - 27 RBI – 10 SB - .377 OB%
 
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock opens a pivotal four-game PSAC West series against Clarion. The Rock and Golden Eagles first play a doubleheader Friday at Pullman Park in Butler, Pennsylvania (1 p.m. / 3:30 p.m.) before SRU hosts Clarion for two games Saturday at Critchfield Park on Messer Field Dedication Day.
 
 
 




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