New/Sortable Box Score 1 | New/Sortable Box Score 2 |&nbsp; <a href="/custompages/stats/Softball/2013/s2013-17.htm">Game 1 Stats</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp; <a href="/custompages/stats/Softball/2013/s2013-18.htm">Game 2 Stats</a><br /> <br /> <div style=""> </div> <div style=""> <img mediaid="14491" src="/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_id=15&amp;image_path=/images/2013/3/28//Lobdell.JPG" style="float:right;margin:5px 5px 5px 5px;" /><strong>SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. </strong>&ndash; The Slippery Rock University softball split the season home opener against West Virginia State University Wednesday afternoon with a 6-2 victory in game one and a 6-4 loss in game two.</div> <br /> In game one, West Virginia State got on the board first in the top of the third inning when Mattie Best hit a double to right field scoring Hannah Griffith.<br /> <br /> In the bottom of the fifth with the score in favor of WVSU at 2-0, Slippery Rock began to answer back. After taking a hard foul tip to the leg, Katie Saluga nailed a solo home run to center field scoring the first run for SRU. Following Saluga&rsquo;s homerun, Emily Lobdell singled to center field. With two outs freshman Katie Kaiser stepped up to the plate and hit a two run home run, giving The Rock a 3-2 advantage.<br /> <br /> With no action from the Yellow Jackets in the top of the sixth, SRU sealed the deal with another three-run inning. With Taylor Welch on base and Sarah Lutz pinch running for Lindsey Kelenske, Breanna Tongel hit a double off the wall in center field, scoring both Welch and Lutz. Sarah Lindvay then stepped in at second for Tongel, where she managed to steal third base and score off of a single from Saluga.<br /> <br /> WVSU was unable to make a comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning. The game ended 6-2 with Ashley Knight earning the win on the mound. Knight is now 5-7 and had four strikeouts in the SRU victory.<br /> <br /> Kaiser, Saluga, and Tongel each had two RBIs.<br /> <br /> In game two, Slippery Rock jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Emily Lobdell hit a single to right field and Jenna Geibel hit her third hom erun of the season.<br /> <br /> The score remained 2-0 until the bottom of the fifth when SRU added two more runs. With the bases loaded Alaynna Beers singled on a bunt and scored Lobdell. Katie Kaiser then scored off a fielder&rsquo;s choice RBI from Tongel.<br /> <br /> Slippery Rock held a 4-0 lead when WVSU began a comeback in the top of the sixth. With the bases loaded and only one out, Dee Dee Loftis stepped up to the plate and drilled a grand slam over the center field fence to tie the game.<br /> <br /> SRU was unable to rally back in the bottom of the sixth and allowed two unearned runs in the top of the seventh. The Rock stranded runners on second and third in the bottom of the seventh to end the game.<br /> <br /> Geibel went 2-for-3 at bat in game two and had two RBIs for The Rock.<br /> <br /> Emily Lobdell was 2-for-3 at bat and was credited with the loss on the mound, dropping her season record to 2-3.<br /> <br /> Slippery Rock is set to host Mercyhurst University Friday at 2:30 p.m. Be sure to check the recent <a href="http://www.rockathletics.com/news/2013/4/3/SB_0403132820.aspx">schedule changes</a> for the upcoming games.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />