Slippery Rock baseball beats rival Grove City as pitcher Jacob Kunsman saves the day
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Slippery Rock's Jackson Novak (18) throws to first base in a baseball game against Grove City at Slippery Rock Area High School on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Jacob Kunsman (24) runs toward home base after a bunt in a baseball game against Grove City at Slippery Rock Area High School on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock catcher Connor Zorn (68) throws the ball to first base in a baseball game against Grove City at Slippery Rock Area High School on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Doug Popovec (3) bats in a baseball game against Grove City at Slippery Rock Area High School on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Austun Runtas (7) pitches in a baseball game against Grove City at Slippery Rock Area High School on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Jacob Kunsman (24) bats in a baseball game against Grove City at Slippery Rock Area High School on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Doug Popovec (3) bats in a baseball game against Grove City at Slippery Rock Area High School on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Jacob Kunsman (24) pitches in a baseball game against Grove City at Slippery Rock Area High School on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Jacob Kunsman (24) pitches in a baseball game against Grove City at Slippery Rock Area High School on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Parker Dalcamo (17) bats in a baseball game against Grove City at Slippery Rock Area High School on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Doug Popovec (3) bats in a baseball game against Grove City at Slippery Rock Area High School on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Jacob Kunsman (24) bats in a baseball game against Grove City at Slippery Rock Area High School on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Casey Darr (27) prepares to bat in a baseball game against Grove City at Slippery Rock Area High School on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Jacob Kunsman (24) runs to home base before the team's third strike in the first inning in a baseball game against Grove City at Slippery Rock Area High School on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
SLIPPERY ROCK — Slippery Rock was in need of some late heroics after going hitless while stranding seven runners in the first four innings.
Jacob Kunsman led the charge.
The right-hander, normally a starting pitcher, struck out five in three innings of relief and scored two of the Rockets’ four runs in the final two frames Wednesday as Slippery Rock rallied for a 4-2 District 10, Region 2 baseball victory over rival Grove City at home.
“This was only the second time we’ve used Jake in relief,” Slippery Rock coach Tyler Friel said. “Our main reliever is out with an injury right now, so we had to call on him. He did a great job.”
“Being a starting pitcher, I’m used to going through a certain pre-game routine, taking my time to get ready,” Kunsman said. “Coming out of the bullpen, especially today, I didn’t get much time to warm up. I was in the hole (third batter due up) when I started to throw.
“Once you’re on the mound, though, it’s the same as always. Get amped up and dominate.”
The Eagles (3-10, 2-7) lost in extra innings in the first meeting between these teams and appeared primed to pull off an upset Wednesday.
Layne Rider doubled home a run in the first inning, and Nolan Renick doubled to deep right in the fifth, eventually scoring on a throwing error. Grove City took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth frame.
Grove City pitcher Max Nardulli did not allow a hit in the first four innings, but walked eight during that time. Connor Zorn broke up the no-hitter with a leadoff double to left in the fifth. Kunsman walked, and Zorn scored when Nardulli’s pickoff attempt sailed over the first baseman’s head.
Nardulli was replaced on the mound by Johnny Podleyon at that point.
“We made some nice plays in the field and Max was keeping their hitters off-balance and stranding runners,” Grove City coach Brandon Jones said. “I liked the way we were playing. Then that fifth inning ... the game seemed to move too fast for us, and we made some critical mistakes.”
Parker Dalcamo reached on a bunt single following the Kunsman walk for Slippery Rock (10-2, 7-1). The catcher’s pickoff attempt at third base sailed into left field, plating Kunsman for the tying run. Dalcamo went to third on the play and scored when Doug Popovec’s ground ball was booted.
Kunsman doubled to left with one out in the sixth. He scored an insurance run on Popovec’s two-out single up the middle.
“We were trying to kill the ball early in the game, hitting a lot of fly balls,” Friel said.
“Our offense has been in a bit of a funk lately. We finally put some good at-bats together, did the little things to score some runs. When you’re not hitting well, you have to execute in other ways to get on the board.
Austan Runtas, the Rockets;’ starting pitcher, entered the game with a 4-0 record and 0.83 ERA. He struck out six in four innings, but walked three and hit a batter. He threw 79 pitches in four frames.
The Rockets return to action Saturday, traveling to Meadville.
Grove City 100 010 0 — 2 4 3
Slippery Rock 000 031 x — 4 5 2
WP: Jacob Kunsman 3IP (5so, 0bb). LP: Johnny Podleyon 1.1IP (0so, 1bb).
Grove City (3-10, 2-7): Nolan Renick 1B 2B, Layne Rider 2B RBI, Ryker McElhinney 1B.
Slippery Rock (10-2, 7-1): Connor Zorn 2B, Jacob Kunsman 2B 2-R, Parker Dalcamo 1B, Doug Popovec 1B 2-RBI, Casey Darr 1B.
Saturday: Slippery Rock at Meadville
