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SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University softball team swept a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division doubleheader against Clarion at the SRU Softball Complex Tuesday afternoon.
 
The visiting Golden Eagles plated a run in the third inning to take an early 1-0 lead over The Rock in the opener as Clarion's starting pitcher, Shawnna Crago, stymied the SRU offense to just one hit through the first five innings.
 
Trailing 1-0 in the sixth, Slippery Rock sophomore Ashley Samluk led off with a walk before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt. Freshman McKenzie Popatak hammered a RBI single into centerfield to tie the contest at 1-1, before sophomore Katie Kaiser slashed a RBI single into right field to give The Rock a 2-1 advantage. Slippery Rock loaded the bases and scored two more in the sixth on a walk and a RBI single from freshman Eliza Sykes to take a 4-1 lead into the seventh.
 
Senior Emily Lobdell got two quick outs but the Golden Eagles loaded the bases after a pair of walks and a Christina Tressler single. Casey Wilcox brought the visitors within one with a two RBI single to right, but Lobdell clamped down to record the final out and give The Rock the 4-3 victory.
 
Sykes went two for four with a RBI and Kaiser picked up a RBI and a run scored on a one for three showing at the plate. Popatak went one for two with a RBI and a walk to round out the offensive leaders for Slippery Rock.
 
Lobdell tossed seven strong innings to pick up the complete game victory and improve to 4-3 on the season. Lobdell struck out six and worked around seven hits and five walks to allow just three runs in seven innings of work.
 
In the nightcap, Kaiser smashed a two-out RBI double off the center field fence to score Popatak and give The Rock a 1-0 lead in the second inning.
 
With the bases loaded in the third, Popatak picked up a two-out two RBI single to push Slippery Rock's lead to 3-0.
 
The Golden Eagles responded with a run on a pair of SRU errors in the top of the fourth to close the gap to 3-1, but freshman pitcher Carly DeRose took control of the game and prevented Clarion from completing the comeback as The Rock would go on to win 3-1.
 
Popatak led the SRU offense in Game 2 with a three for three performance from the plate, including two RBI and a run scored. Kaiser went two for three with a double and a RBI, while Sykes went one for three with a run scored.
 
DeRose (3-5) did not give up a hit until the fifth inning and picked up the win after allowing just three hits and one run (unearned), while striking out five in seven innings of work.
 
With the wins, The Rock improves to 7-10 on the season and 3-1 in the PSAC-West. The losses drop Clarion's record to 1-8 overall and 0-2 in the PSAC-West.
 
Slippery Rock returns to action Friday, April 4 at home against Indiana (Pa.). First pitch of the PSAC-West doubleheader is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at the SRU Softball Complex.