Slippery Rock Baseball got off to a good start this season, going 6-3 over their first nine games played.
They came out of the gates with a 6-4 extra-inning win over Shippensburg University on Friday, February 24. The game lasted 12 innings which was two innings longer than any of their matchups last year.
The Rock would go on to lose to Shippensburg the next day and drop the first game of their Sunday doubleheader but recovered to win the second and split the four-game set.
Redshirt senior outfielder Alex Robenolt played a large role in both victories, homering in each of them including two homeruns in the latter performance.
Sophomore outfielder and pitcher Robert Herr and Senior pitcher Tanner Esposito both collected wins on the mound.
If there was any rust, The Rock shook it off immediately after their first series. During the following three-game set against Alliance University, which marked their home opener, they hit to cover off of the ball to the tune of an astonishing 54 runs in the series.
In case the offensive explosion was not enough of an indication, SRU swept the series to improve their record to 5-2.
Senior OF Luke Trueman was an offensive catalyst in the first game with a home run, a double, two RBI and two runs scored while Devin Dunn collected the win.
The second game’s offensive masterpiece has Junior centerfielder Joseph Ehland to thank as he accumulated five RBI, four runs scored and two triples while reaching base five times. Robert Herr pitched himself to another win.
Slippery Rock then decided to step off the gas a little, scoring only 23 runs as opposed to 24. This time Senior shortstop Jon Kozarian was at the center of it all, tallying four runs scored, three RBI and one stolen base while going 3-5.
The offensive explosion continued into their series this weekend as during their first game today at West Virginia State University, they won 25-0. The 25 runs currently marks their biggest winning margin in program history. It was the end of a three game stretch where The Rock scored at least 23 runs.
Kozarian was once again at the forefront of this one with five RBI and three runs scored on two hits. Cain led the squad with three hits.
Devin Dunn accounted for the masterclass on the mound with four strikeouts while allowing only three hits during his complete-game shutout.
Unfortunately, SRU’s reign of terror then came to an end as West Virginia State was able to salvage a double-header split with a 2-5 victory. The White and Green fell to 6-3.
Slippery Rock will play West Virginia State again tomorrow to decide who wins the series. The rock will then come home to Jack Critchfield park for a three-game series against Wilmington University, which will be their final games before starting PSAC play against Mercyhurst University on March 24.
