Slippery Rock Fall Report: Veteran Core Eyes PSAC Crown

Entering his 41st season at the helm, the second-most among active NCAA coaches, head coach Jeff Messer remains a titan of Division II baseball, boasting 1,154 career victories. After a 2025 campaign that saw The Rock finish 31-19 and secure a PSAC Tournament berth, the vibe in Slippery Rock is one of optimistic determination, one that wants to see them back into the regionals like they were in 2022.

What started as positive momentum with a 3-1 start on the season, including beating regional team Goldey-Beacom, led to some struggles with back-to-back series losses to Shippensburg and West Virginia State. However, that led to going 8-1 over a 9-game span, including beating eventual MEC South Division Champion Walsh in extra innings.Later in the season, momentum rode high, as the squad won seven straight from April 9th to April 16th and a win against regional team Ashland on the road on April 22nd. Speaking of regional teams, nine of their last ten games in the regular season were against regional teams (the only other was ineligible Point Park, who won 40+ games and the MEC Tournament Title, which Slippery Rock beat 13-9). Overall the team finished 5-5 in that span. Hopes were high for Slippery Rock, as they were on the final regional rankings (8th), though on the outside looking in.

Simply put, the Rock needed to make a run to get a berth.

The opportunity was there with nationally ranked Millersville at Millersville to open up PSAC Tournament play, but a shutout loss ended their season right then and there with the first round single elimination format.

Now, with a veteran core returning and key transfers bolstering the roster, the goal is clear: improve on last year’s collective .291 batting average and make a deeper postseason run.

One thing of familiarity from years past, the 2026 PSAC Tournament will be hosted at Jack Critchfield Park in Slippery Rock, PA for the fourth time in the last five years.

The Offense

The lineup is anchored by two-way standout Gage Gillott, a 1st-Team All-PSAC West and 2nd-Team all-Atlantic Region utility selection who was a force at the plate. In 149 at-bats, Gillott hit .349 with 9 doubles, 4 home runs, and 25 RBI. His ability to get on base (.443 OBP) and create havoc on the basepaths (12 stolen bases) sets the table for the rest of the order.

Providing protection in the lineup is Brandon Butler, a 2nd-Team All-PSAC West selection at third base. Butler posted a .329 average in 146 at-bats, driving in 18 runs. Joining him is sophomore Stone Powell, who broke out with a .328 average in 116 at-bats, adding 10 doubles and 24 RBI to the mix.

Perhaps the most disciplined hitter in the conference is senior outfielder Mike Kitko. In 157 at-bats, Kitko hit .293 with 29 RBI, but his contact skills are elite—he ranked 1st in the conference and 4th nationally with a microscopic 3.0% strikeout rate.

Rounding out the veteran infield is senior second baseman Clay Wiesen, who hit .289 in 173 at-bats with 10 doubles and 23 RBI. Behind the dish, junior Treston Nemeth returns after hitting .288 in 160 at-bats with 5 doubles and 21 RBI. Stone Powell is another impact bat coming back, who hit .328 with 10 doubles in 116 at-bats.

Newcomers are expected to make an immediate splash. Redshirt freshman Jacob Robinson, a transfer from Division I Kent State and the 117th-ranked player in Pennsylvania in his class, looks to lock down the shortstop position. Outfield depth gets a boost from Lock Haven transfer Morgen Billotte, who hit .340 in 147 at-bats last season. Freshman catcher Landon Hamer, a Class 3A All-State selection who hit .460 his senior year, will also vie for playing time.

The Pitching Staff

The Rock’s pitching staff looks to be one of the premier units in the PSAC and D2 Baseball, returning a core that pitched to a 3.90 team ERA last season (10th in the country).

Leading the rotation is senior ace Nate Malak, a 2nd-Team All-PSAC West honoree. Malak posted a 6-3 record with a 3.46 ERA in 65.0 innings pitched, racking up 59 strikeouts. He was difficult to hit, ranking 2nd in the conference for hits allowed per 9 innings (7.2).

The bullpen is headlined by senior Mark Wilbur, a D2 Baseball 2nd-Team All-American. Wilbur was lights out, recording a 2-2 record with a 1.93 ERA in 42.0 innings pitched. He notched 6 saves (ranking 5th in the conference) and his dominance was further highlighted by a 30.4% strikeout rate, which ranked 1st among relievers in the conference.

Gage Gillott provides valuable innings as the No. 2 starter, finishing with a 4-3 record and a 3.16 ERA in 37.0 innings pitched and one year removed from a 2024 D2 Baseball All-American Second Team selection. Junior Joey Vanzin adds depth to the pen, having logged a 1-2 record with a 3.04 ERA in 26.2 innings.

Several newcomers will bolster the staff. Junior Cole Grady transfers in from Glenville State, where he posted a 3.38 ERA over 58.2 innings. The freshman class is equally promising, featuring Zach Hare, the 18th-ranked RHP in Pennsylvania who set a national record with 36 and 1/3 consecutive no-hit innings in the postseason in high school and features a low 90s fastball. He is joined by Tyler Slone, an Akron native from LeBron James' alma mater St. Vincent-St. Mary, and Nolan Comerford, a top-ranked arm from Long Island.

Key Departures

This Slippery Rock team doesn’t lose much from last year’s team, but there a few names that are worth noting. On offense, Tyler Cerame departs via graduation after hitting .306 with 10 doubles. On the mound, two arms pitched their final season with the program last year. First is Joe Purcell, who went 4-3 over 53.1 innings pitched (11 starts). Second is second team All-PSAC West Hunter Loomis, who posted an impressive 2.20 ERA over 41 innings. Replacing those players may be tough, but with the incoming class for Slippery Rock, there is opportunity to be successful.

Schedule & Outlook

Slippery Rock opens the 2026 campaign with a challenging weekend in Cary, N.C., facing Kutztown, Frostburg State, and Goldey-Beacom starting February 20th.

The PSAC West slate remains a gauntlet. Key home series include battles against Pitt-Johnstown (March 28) and Gannon (April 10), while The Rock travels to face heavyweights Seton Hill (March 20 - beginning PSAC play) and Indiana (PA) (April 3). A late-season non-conference matchup against Ashland on April 21 will serve as a crucial regional test before the postseason push.

With a pitching staff that ranked among the conference's best and an offense reloaded with transfer talent, Slippery Rock is well-positioned to improve upon their 4th place divisional finish and chase a PSAC title and/or regional berth in 2026.

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