JOHNSTOWN — Wyatt Daugherty was a dependable starting pitcher at Butler High School.

He has provided plenty of relief at Slippery Rock University.

SRU's junior right-hander continued his assault on The Rock record book Thursday, recording his ninth save of the season in his team's 14-4 win over No. 19 West Chester in the PSAC Tournament.

Daugherty extended his own Rock single-season record in saves — pitching coach John Kovalik held the previous mark of seven — and his 14th career save pulled him within two of Kovalik's career record of 16.

“I love it,” Daugherty said of relief pitching. “I like entering games in pressure situations, needing to get the last three outs.”

SRU coach Jeff Messer — who earned his 994th career win Thursday — is pretty fond of Daugherty's role as well.

“Wyatt has simply taken over that role,” Messer said of the closer spot in the bullpen. “We try not to use him if the score isn't at least tied.

“It's a luxury knowing we've got a guy in the bullpen who can lock down a win for us in the sixth or seventh inning.”

Daugherty is primarily a two-pitch pitcher — fastball and slider — though he is working on developing a splitter. His fastball has touched 90 miles per hour.

Messer refers to Daugherty's slider as “his strikeout pitch.”

And he uses it often.

“That's a major league caliber slider he's throwing right now,” the coach said.

Daugherty's put the time in to perfect it.

“A lot of guys throw the traditional slider, but are unsure of where it's going,” Daugherty said. ”I know the location I want with my slider and I know how to get it there.

“I always throw it a few times in the bullpen before entering a game, just to know the pitch is where I want it. On days I'm not pitching, I'll still throw 15 or 20 sliders on the side.”

Messer said Daugherty “isn't afraid to pitch to contact” with his fastball, which has led to some quick innings with him on the mound.

In 20 appearances this season, Daugherty has been scored upon in just five.

“The kid comes in and throws strikes,” Messer said.

Daugherty carries a 2.89 earned run average this season. He is 3-4 with 26 strikeouts in 28 innings.

In three rough outings, he surrendered seven earned runs in four innings pitched, including three runs in 1.1 innings against West Chester during SRU's spring trip.

“I got roughed up pretty good that day. It wasn't fun,” Daugherty said. “Those types of outings can kill your ERA.”

“Sometimes a relief pitcher comes in and gets hit around,” Mssser said. “They don't get enough innings during the year to lower the ERA from that.

“The fact Wyatt's ERA is under 3.00 shows how consistent he's been. Take those three rough outings out and his ERA is sub-1.00. That's Lou Trivino (ex-Rock pitcher now with Oakland A's) territory.”

Daugherty wouldn't mind joining Trivino in pro ball someday.

“I don't want to get my hopes up too high, but pro teams need relief guys as much as they need starting pitchers,” Daugherty said. “There's a market for both.

“Scouts look at the numbers ... ERA, saves, strikeouts per nine innings, stuff like that.”

Daugherty needs three saves to snap Kovalik's career record. With 16 more appearances, he will move past Ken Ord's total of 59 and into second on SRU's all-time list behind Kovalik's 73.

Daugherty has also finished 35 games for The Rock, second all-time to Kovalik's 59. He has 70 strikeouts in 69.2 innings pitched during his collegiate career.

“Wyatt may not get a chance at the (career) saves record if we need to put him in the starting rotation next year,” Messer said, half-jokingly. “He does have one of the best arms on the team.”

Daugherty would have no objection. He plans on adding the splitter to his repertoire next season either way.

“I'm here to help the team, in whatever role they need me to do,” he said. “I'm up for anything.”