New/Sortable Box Score

CLERMONT, Fla. – The Slippery Rock University softball team recorded a 4-3 walk off victory against Merrimack College Monday morning at the Dot Richardson Spring Games.

The Rock was scheduled to play Saint Leo University in the afternoon, but the game was postponed due to inclement weather. It has not been announced whether the game will be rescheduled.

Slippery Rock loaded the bases in the first inning and scored first on a RBI groundout from senior Breanna Tongel. Sophomore Ashley Samluk delivered a two-out RBI single to left field to give SRU a 2-0 lead after one.

The Warriors answered with three unanswered runs, one in the second inning and two in the fourth, to take a 3-2 lead. Samluk tied the game with a solo blast over the left field fence in the sixth inning.

After blanking Merrimack in the top of the seventh, freshman Eliza Sykes led off the bottom half of the inning with a single before advancing into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt from senior Emily Lobdell. Sophomore Katie Kaiser roped a double down the left field line to score Sykes and give The Rock its second walk off victory in consecutive games.

Samluk went two for three with a homerun, two RBIs and a run scored to pace Slippery Rock's offense. Sykes picked up a pair of hits in three at bats and scored a run, while Kaiser went one for three with a double, a run scored and a RBI.

Freshman Carly DeRose received the no decision after allowing three runs on four hits, while striking out five, in 3.1 innings pitched. Lobdell picked up the victory after throwing 3.2 shutout innings in relief. Lobdell allowed two hits and struck out four.

With the win, Slippery Rock improves to 4-6 on the season. Merrimack drops to 2-8 overall after the loss.

The Rock returns to action in day four of the Dot Richardson Spring Games with a 9:00 a.m. first pitch against the University of Illinois Springfield. Slippery Rock also plays the New York Institute of Technology at 1:00 p.m.