SLIPPERY ROCK— Pitching, pitching, pitching.

Slippery Rock University's baseball team didn't have enough of it last spring, so longtime coach Jeff Messer decided to restock his shelf.

Four transfers — Scott Dunn from Marietta College, George Hebert from St. Louis University, Zach Jeney from Lewisburg Junior College and Mike Ritson from Winthrop University — are fresh arms in SRUuniforms as the team headed to Florida Thursday.

"We have a team that can score a lot of runs,"said Messer, entering his 24th year at the helm. "But we had a depleted pitching staff last year."

The Rock finished 25-23 overall, 12-8 in PSACplay a year ago, reaching the conference tournament. SRUhad leads in the seventh inning of both of its tournament games, only to go two-and-out in the double-elimination competition.

"Our pitching ran out of gas. We didn't have enough depth, so we made that our No. 1 priority,"Messer said.

Dunn pitched for Marietta's Division IIInational championship team in 2006, joined the National Guard shortly thereafter, and has returned to college ball with The Rock. Jeney is a left-hander who throws 88 miles per hour with a good breaking ball.

Messer recruited Jeney out of high school. Ritson, from Woodland Hills, threw 22 innings of middle relief for Winthrop and wanted a chance to be a starter. Hebert was a teammate of Rock pitcher Don Pugliese in a summer collegiate league and was an all-star there.

Pugliese (1-2, 2.66 earned run average) and Rich Hocanson (5-1, 3.89) return to anchor the SRUstaff. Vince Lloyd and J.T. Thomas are returnees who will see work out of the bullpen.

"Those eight guys will do the bulk of our pitching,"Messer said. "We're excited about the prospects of having enough depth if someone goes down with an injury."

If Messer isn't excited about the prospects of his offense, he should be.

SRUreturns the bulk of a lineup that hit a composite .332 last season. The Rock (2-1) opened this season with a three-game series against Tiffin in Chillicothe, scoring 36 runs in three games.

Leading hitter Matt Adams (.438 8 HR-44 RBI)returns and will divide time at catcher and first base with Derek Diruscia (.308 2-7).

Slippery Rock High School graduate Billy Messer (.239 2-15) is a third-year starter at second base while Kyle Smith (.240 0-4) will play shortstop. Grove City High graduate Billy Herman (.337 2-34) is a fourth-year starter at third base.

Last year's shortstop, Rich Michalek (.392 5-32, 25 stolen bases) has moved to center field. He will be flanked by Jake Oswalt (.321 0-20) in left and Scott Bender (.409 5-34) in right.

Adam Jury, who had eight hits in nine at bats against Tiffin, will see time at designated hitter. Freshman Matt Kosik will see a lot of action in the outfield.

"We've got the bats, no question about that,"Messer said. "Those three games in Chillicothe were miserable. I don't think the temperature got above 30 degrees and pitchers had trouble gripping the ball."

"You want to play those games if you can, though, because you probably won't be able to make them up. We had five games in Chillicothe and eight in West Virginia canceled last year because of bad weather. That cost us a chance to get to 30 wins."

The Rock posted wins of 11-6 and 16-3 over Tiffin and dropped a 26-9 decision.

SRUwas picked to win the PSACWest in the preseason coaches poll. Indiana, California and Mercyhurst were selected second through fourth.

"Any one of those teams could win it,"Messer said.

The Rock begins an 11-game Florida tour with a 6 p.m. game Saturday against Mansfield in Boca Raton.

SRUalso plays PSACEast foes West Chester, Shippensburg and East Stroudsburg during its visit to the Sunshine State.

The team's home opener is at 1 p.m. March 14 against California at Critchfield Park.