Rock stays alive in playoff hunt with split at Mercyhurst

SRU (18-20) won the first game by a 4-3 score and dropped a 2-1, eight inning decision in the second game of a PSAC-West doubleheader Saturday at Mercyhurst

Game One Boxscore
Game Two Boxscore

ERIE, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University softball team split a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-Western Division doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Mercyhurst.

SRU, now 18-20 overall and 6-8 in the PSAC-West, won the first game, 4-3, before dropping the second game, 2-1.

The split keeps The Green and White alive in their quest for a PSAC playoff berth. The Rock has not competed in a PSAC playoff since 1984, a span of 25 seasons.

Once all the division games are played, the top three teams in the division will advance to the conference tournament April 24-25. The Rock remains in third place in the PSAC-West after Saturday's games and has one more division doubleheader on Sunday.

SRU jumped out to an early lead in game one when Courtney Vincent scored in the first inning. Assisting Vincent on offense were Jessica Kortz, Kirsten Brant and Whitney Warmus, who each scored one run.

Kortz, Jess Ellebruch and Lisa Getgen were credited with The Rock's three RBIs.

Shauna Walker spent all seven innings on the mound for SRU, allowing seven hits and three runs in 28 batters faced. The win brings her record to 8-10 this season.

In the second game, Mercyhurst jumped out to an early lead, plating one run in the first inning.

Slippery Rock did not answer until Jordan Zeunges scored SRU's only run in the fourth inning. Sheree Horvath was credited with an RBI on the play.

The game went to extra innings after finishing in a 1-1 tie after seven and The Rock could not score in the top of the eighth. Mercyhurst capitalized, scoring the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning to salvage the split.

Pitching 7.2 innings, freshman Shaylee Ianno allowed three hits and two runs after facing 28 batters. Ianno also had four strikeouts. She now stands at 3-3 on the season.

Slippery Rock continues its quest for a PSAC playoff berth at 12:30 p.m. Sunday (moved up from its original start time of 1 p.m.), when it will host PSAC-West leader and 19th-ranked California (Pa.) in a doubleheader. This will be SRU's last home date of the season.

Rock seniors Lisa Getgen and Lauren Saulter will be honored prior to the first game.

The Rock is then scheduled to close out the regular-season schedule with an April 22 doubleheader at Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio.

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