Wilmington Box Score
Ferris State Box Score

Kissimmee, Fla. – The Slippery Rock University softball team began its 2011 season Sunday by splitting a pair of games at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla. SRU started the day with a 7-1 win over Wilmington before losing 7-1 to Ferris State in its second game.

First baseman Jenna Geibel led Slippery Rock (1-1) in its 7-1 win over Wilmington with a three-run home run while third baseman Jordan Zeunges went 3-for-4 with one run scored and two RBIs.

Shaylee Ianno (1-0) tallied six strikeouts and scattered five hits over seven innings to earn her first win of the season.

 Zeunges drove in two runs in the first inning to give The Rock an early 2-0 lead. Wilmington (1-2) responded with its only run of the game in the bottom of the first inning to cut SRU's lead to 2-1.

With two runners on base in the fourth inning, Geibel blew the game open with her 12th career home run. Slippery Rock added two more insurance runs in the top of the seventh thanks to RBIs from outfielder Natalie Atkinson and catcher Katie Saluga.

Atkinson, outfielders Shardea Croes and Amanda Hedgepeth and short stop Kirsten Brant all had two-hit games for The Rock.

However, Slippery Rock's bats would fall silent against Ferris State in its second game of the day as The Rock managed just four hits in the 7-1 defeat.

Geibel went 1-for-3 with one run scored against the Bulldogs. Hedgepeth, Atkinson and outfielder Gina Brenzo accounted for The Rock's other three hits in the game.

Shauna Walker (0-1) took the loss for Slippery Rock after giving up 10 hits and seven runs, only three of which were earned, in five innings of work. Walker also struck out six FSU batters on the day.

Already up 2-0, Ferris State extended its lead with a four-run third inning. FSU added another run in the fifth before being quieted for the final two innings by Emily Lobdell, who was making her first appearance on the mound in a collegiate game. Lobdell did not allow a hit and registered one strikeout in her two innings pitched.  

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, second baseman Rachel Henderson drew a bases-loaded walk to score Geibel. But the rally attempt would be stopped when Croes grounded out to third to end the game during the next Rock at-bat.

Slippery Rock will be back in action with two more games Monday at the Rebel Spring Games. The Rock will start the day with a rematch against Wilmington at 9 a.m. followed by a 1 p.m. contest against Lees-McRae.