Slippery Rock High School pitcher Gunner Becker unleashes a pitch Wednesday against Oil City in a D-10 quarterfilnal baseball game at Cricthfield Park at Slippery Rock University.

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.”

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