SLIPPERY ROCK — Solid mechanics, a lively fastball and experience pitching in big games.

Ryan Oglesby has proven to be the perfect college baseball recruit — ready-made and good to go.

“We've really done very little with him since he got here,” Slippery Rock University baseball coach Jeff Messer said.

But Oglesby has done plenty for SRU baseball.

The freshman right-hander and North Allegheny graduate has put together a 4-1 record, 1.75 earned run average and six saves this spring, all in 14 appearances out of the bullpen.

“All it took was a couple of looks at him in the fall and we groomed him to be our closer,” Messer said. “The kid pounds the strike zone and he doesn't get rattled.”

Oglesby stands only 5-foot-11 and weighs 175 pounds, but his fastball has been clocked as high as 88 miles per hour. His curveball bites sharply over either side of the plate.

“Fastball, curve, slider, change up ... Ryan has a good repertoire and he has command of all of them,” SRU pitching coach Steve Urda said.

Oglesby has 22 strikeouts and only three walks in 25.2 innings pitched. He's surrendered just 16 hits and his .182 batting average against leads all Rock pitchers.

With four games left in the regular season and the PSAC Tournament to follow, Oglesby already has as many saves by a Rock pitcher since Tom Dickinson recorded six in 1991.

The team record is seven, set by Ken Ord in 1990.

“Who knows where this total might go? Ryan may be doing this for a while,” Messer said.

With a dependable closer, SRU is on the verge of winning its first PSAC West regular season crown since sharing the title in 2005. The Rock clinches the top seed out of the West if its splits its four-game series with Mercyhurst this weekend.

“This role is a little different for me,” Oglesby admitted. “I prefer starting — I'm used to starting — but it is kinda fun being involved in a close game in the final inning.

“I'm used to being ready to pitch five or six innings at a time. Now I have to be ready all of the time. It doesn't matter. You have to be ready when the team needs you, regardless.”

As a two-year starter at North Allegheny, Oglesby put together a 17-2 record. He pitched and won the WPIAL championship game as a junior as the Tigers advanced all the way to the state semifinals.

As a senior, Oglesby pitched in the WPIAL finals again, fashioned a 1.73 ERA and amassed 53 strikeouts in as many innings pitched.

He opted for SRU over California (Pa.), Seton Hill and Cleveland State.

“My older brother goes here, so I was familiar with it,” Oglesby said. “The coaches are great and I love the facility.

“Being a closer is a way to get me into big games right away and I'm all in favor of that.”

Urda likes how often Oglesby is available.

“Because he throws strikes, he limits his pitch count,” the coach said. “He can go one or two innings, throw 30 to 35 pitches and be ready for the next game.”

Messer couldn't help but smile when talking about his freshman phenom.

“He looks like he's 12, but the kid's a competitor,” Messer said.