SLIPPERY ROCK — Consider 13 an unlucky number?

It was a nightmarish number last spring for Slippery Rock University baseball coach Jeff Messer.

The Rock finished 13-36 last season — only Messer's third losing record in 31 years at SRU. It was by far the worst year of his tenure.

“It was the perfect storm. What could go wrong, did go wrong,” Messer, 58, said of the 2016 campaign.

Yet Messer enters the 2017 season seventh among active Division II coaches with 937 career wins. He has coached 180 All-PSAC players, 33 All-Americans and has been named PSAC West Coach of the Year 10 times.

And he's not about to cash in on his career.

“It has definitely refueled me,” Messer said of that 13-36 mark. “We want to try to forget last year, but we want to remember it at the same time.

“It's made me hungrier as a coach. I was ready to begin work on 2017 the day the 2016 season ended.”

The 2017 season arrives Friday for SRU when it travels to Dinwiddie, Va., to face East Stroudsburg. The Rock stays there to play West Chester in a Saturday doubleheader.

“That's two region contenders we play right off the bat,” Messer said. “We'll find out where we stand real quick.”

SRU is picked to finish fourth in the preseason PSAC West standings, behind Mercyhurst, Seton Hill and Gannon.

Messer said pitching and infield defense were the prime culprits for last year's failure. The Rock's team earned run average was 7.08 and the infield committed more than 50 errors.

“We're moving some people around. That and with some newcomers, we believe we'll shore up our infield,” Messer said.

Mitchell Wood is moving from shortstop to second base while Joey Campagna, last year's second baseman, will now play shortstop. Seneca Valley graduate Carson Kessler (.230, 3 homers last year) will start at first base, Matt Mandes at third.

Kessler, a senior, has played 68 games for The Rock — more than any other player on the roster.

Junior catcher Tyler Walters, a preseason All-American, was limited primarily to DH duties last year due to injuries. He is healthy this year and will spend much more time behind the plate.

Walters was among the top 20 hitters in the nation last year, batting .439 with 12 homers and 45 RBI.

“I expect he'll get drafted in June,” Messer said of the amateur draft. “In fact, Tyler and (pitcher) Alex Pantuso have drawn more interest from pro scouts than any player we've ever had here, including Matt Adams (St. Louis Cardinals).”

Pantuso was only 1-7 with a 6.54 ERA last season, but had 51 strikeouts in 53 innings. He also allowed 33 walks.

“He's 6-foot-5, 230 pounds and throws hard. If he puts it all together, he could become the best pitcher in the conference,” Messer said.

Other potential starting pitchers for The Rock include Grove City High graduate Matt Gordon, who led the team with five wins last season, Preston Falascino, Tyler Markovic, Chris Anastas, Jay Cortese and Shawn Holman.

Markovic is a transfer from Montgomery Community College, where he was 3-1 with a 2.10 ERA and had 46 strikeouts in 30 innings.

“Falascino played third base last year as well as pitched,” Messer said. “Now that he's a full-time pitcher, we expect he'll be much improved.”

James Divosevic and Butler graduate Wyatt Daugherty — who struck out eight in nine innings last year before being sidelined by arm soreness — will be the prime closers out of the bullpen.

The outfield looks solid with leadoff hitter Lucas Fuscardo, who started as a freshman at Kent State before transferring to Calhoun, playing left field, Frankie Jezioro (.310, 6 HRs) in center and Divosevic (.367) in right. Kyle Wise will see action out there as well.

“We're moving Frankie from the lead-off spot to No. 4 in the lineup,” Messer said. “He's got some pop and he'll protect Walters, who's hitting third.

“We feel like our outfield is as good as anybody's in the PSAC. It's a definite strength moving into this season.”