SLIPPERY ROCK — It takes a lot to beat Slippery Rock on a baseball field.

It doesn't take much for Slippery Rock to beat you.

With a team earned run average of 1.81, the Rockets haven't needed much offensive production at all to take care of the opposition this spring.

“Our pitching has been a big plus, absolutely,” Slippery Rock coach Fred Pryor said. “Especially at this time of year ... The pitching depth comes in handy.”

For the Rockets (18-2) to win the District 10 Class 4A championship, they will have to win three playoff games in the span of six days. That run started Wednesday with a 1-0 victory over Oil City at Critchfield Park.

If Slippery Rock defeats Warren in the semifinal round Saturday at Critchfield Park, it will play for the district title on Memorial Day.

Senior right-hander Gunner Becker went the distance Wednesday, scattering five hits and striking out six. He improved his record to 7-0 on the season and has 49 strikeouts in 52.1 innings pitched.

“We got beat in the district championship game when I was a sophomore and got knocked out in the semifinals last year,” Becker said. “We don't want to be stopped short of a D-10 title this time.”

While Becker has been stellar on the mound all season, he has hardly been alone.

Junior right-hander Dylan Dingel is 4-2 with a 2.62 ERA, 35 strikeouts and eight walks in 40 innings pitched.

Junior right-hander Ricky Mineo is 5-0 with a 1.81 ERA, 21 strikeouts and 12 walks in 27 innings pitched.

“If one of us doesn't have it on a given day, the other two can bail him out,” Dingel said.

All three have recorded a save this season. Mineo has made only two starts on the mound.

“Ricky's more used to coming on in relief. We all have our roles and it works,” Becker said.

Slippery Rock has not allowed more than three runs in any of its last six games, 10 of its last 11. The Rockets have allowed three or fewer runs in 15 of its 20 games all season.

The trio is different in size. Mineo is 6-foot 5, Becker 6-2 and Dingel 5-9. Their results are the same.

They get people out.

“We've all been pitching since we were young,” Mineo said. “I've been doing it since I was 7.

“I use my curve and change-up a lot, but my out pitch is my fastball.”

Dingel shares that philosophy.

“Get ahead of the hitters, keep the ball low and get outs with my fastball. That's what I do,” he said.

Becker said his sinker is his out pitch. He has a curve, slider and fastball in his arsenal as well.

“I feel like I can count on any of those guys at any time,” Pryor said. “We even go deeper than that. We had a stretch of five region games in a week this season, used five pitchers and won them all.”

Calvin Rossi is 1-0 with a 1.00 ERA in seven innings pitched. Danny Williams is 1-0, has not allowed an earned run, and has 12 strikeouts in 12 innings this season.

“It's taken all of us at some point,” Dingel said. “We can rely on each other.”

Dingel and Becker have been mound opponents in summer travel ball before.

“We've all known each other for a long time,” Becker said. “It's all about throwing strikes and attacking the hitters. We've all been doing that.”