SLIPPERY ROCK— Not many familiar faces are returning to Jack Critchfield Park this spring.

The usual lofty expectations surrounding the Slippery Rock University baseball team are back, however.

The Rockis coming off a 34-22 season and return only two position players: shortstop Phil Butch and Grove City High School product Billy Herman at third.

"We've added a lot of new faces, picked up some transfers and increased the depth of our pitching staff,"veteran coach Jeff Messer said. "We should be good to go."

Between freshmen and college transfers, SRU's roster has 12 new players in 2007.

The Rock is off to a 4-0 start already, sweeping a four-game series from Tiffin (Ohio) University last weekend in Chillicothe, Ohio. SRUwill not play again until March 9, when it faces St. Cloud State (Minn.) at 12:30 p.m. in Port Charlotte, Fla.

SRU's first home date is a 1 p.m. March 20 doubleheader vs. Mansfield at Critchfield Park. The Rock will play 11 games in Florida before then.

"Our pitching should be lined up by the time we get home, at least in terms of who is in what role,"Messer said.

The ace of the staff is clearly senior right-hander Derek Blyzwick (4-2, 2.86 earned run average in 2006). He had 56 strikeouts in 56X\c innings.

After Blyzwick, the spots in the starting rotation are wide open. Among the contenders is Mars graduate Josh Rape (6-3, 4.60 ERA), a senior right- hander.

He has plenty of company in sophomore left-hander Mark Tanner, junior right-handers Chris Squeglia and Craig Misiewicz, and freshman left-handers Sean Holliday and Rich Hocanson.

Providing bullpen help are Slippery Rock High School graduates Mike DeCola (0-1, 3.97 ERA)and Scott Rice (2-2, 5.32). Tom Turnbull, a 6-foot-5 senior, is the team's closer.

Vince Lloyd, a freshman from Beaver Falls who throws 94 mph, and Franklin product Matt Lynn round out the staff.

Four Rock pitchers, Turnbull (Southern Connecticut State), Tanner (Kentucky), Squeglia (Allegheny) and Holliday (Marshall), are transfers from other schools.

"We've got a lot of versatility with this staff,"Messer said.

The Rock's catcher and No. 4 hitter is 6-3, 215-pound freshman Matt Adams, a left-handed power hitter who Messer describes as "the real deal."

A pair of transfers, Scott Hugney from Allegany (Md.) and Dan Hudeck from Mercyhurst Northeast, are competing at first base.

Billy Messer, the coach's son and a freshman from Slippery Rock High, will start at second base. Butch (.379, 34 stolen bases) is at shortstop with Herman (.318) at third.

Karns City graduate Josh Smith, a transfer from Mercyhurst Northeast, is Herman's backup at third base.

SRU's outfield features junior M.J. Parsons, a transfer from Allegany (Md.) in left field, Karns City graduate Travis Trimbur in center and Ryan Dillon (.327, 4 HRas DHlast year) in right. Also competing for time in the outfield is sophomore Rich Michalek (.345)

"Parsons made three great catches in our first four games," Messer said. "He's our No. 5 hitter right now."

SRUheads to Florida ranked fifth in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association's Division IINorth Atlantic Regional poll.

Messer is in his 22nd season as SRUcoach and is 663-376-4 in his career at The Rock.