New/Sortable Box Score 1 |
New/Sortable Box Score 2 |
Game One Box Score |
Game Two Box Score
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University softball team recorded a two-game sweep of Clarion University Wednesday afternoon at the SRU Softball Complex with a 3-2 win in nine innings and a 2-1 win in the nightcap.
The Rock needed a seventh inning rally and extra innings to earn the win in game one and needed a late score in game two to earn the 2-1 win.
With the sweep, Slippery Rock improves to 13-15 overall. Clarion drops to 3-15 overall and remains in search of its first win over a Division II team this spring.
The Golden Eagles scored two runs in the top of the second inning of game one and maintained that advantage until the bottom of the seventh inning.
Lindsey Kelenske led off the inning with a base hit in a pinch hit appearance and was replaced on first base by
Sarah Lutz.
Megan Maloney beat out the throw on an infield single to put runners on first and second with no outs.
Katie Saluga, who had walked in her three previous at bats, ripped an RBI single into left field to score Lutz and leave runners on first and second with no outs.
Emily Lobdell put down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners and
Katie Kaiser hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Maloney to tie it at 2-2.
Clarion managed to get out of the inning with two runners left on base for The Rock.
Ashley Knight pitched out of a bases loaded, one out jam in the eighth inning but Clarion retired SRU in order to send the game to the ninth. Again in the ninth, the Golden Eagles threatened, but Knight closed the door with runners on second and third to head to the bottom of the ninth.
With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Saluga ripped her second hit of the game up the middle and reached second on an error after Lobdell reached on a fielder's choice.
Saluga and Lobdell orchestrated a double steal to move both runners into scoring position and
Katie Kaiser trickled a single into left-center field to plate Saluga for the game-winning run.
Kaiser finished the game with two RBI, while Saluga reached base five times and was 2-for-2 with an RBI.
Knight earned the win with a complete game on the mound that included 13 strikeouts.
Elizabeth Shiring and Taylor Sherry each recorded an RBI for Clarion and Jessica Rohaus took the loss in the circle after throwing a complete game and picking up seven strikeouts.
Jenna Geibel opened the scoring in the second game with a solo home run, her sixth of the season, in the bottom of the second inning.
Clarion tied the score at 1-1 in the top of the fifth inning.
Geibel opened the sixth inning with a double to right-center field and then was replaced with Lutz as a pinch runner.
Lutz plated the game-winning run when
Taylor Welch hit a double off the wall later in the inning.
Lobdell retired Clarion in order in the top of the seventh to seal the win.
Geibel and Welch both went 3-for-3 in the second game, with all three of Geibel's hits coming in the form of extra base hits with two doubles and a home run.
Lobdell earned the complete game win with two strikeouts and one earned run allowed.
Slippery Rock is back in action Friday when Edinboro visits the SRU Softball complex for a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division doubleheader. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m.
