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ERIE, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University softball team was handed a pair of walk-off losses in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division action against Gannon University Thursday afternoon from Erie, Pa.
 
Senior pitcher Emily Lobdell breezed through the first four innings before the Golden Knights scored on a strikeout and a wild pitch to take a 1-0 lead in the fifth. Junior Taylor Welch answered for Slippery Rock with a two-RBI double to put The Rock ahead 2-1 in the top of the sixth.
 
Gannon responded with a run in the bottom of the sixth to knot the game at 2-2 and set down three consecutive Rock batters in the top of the seventh. The Golden Knights led off the bottom of the frame with a single and advanced the runner into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt before Katie Dunn ended the game in walk-off fashion with a RBI single to center field to record the 3-2 victory in Game 1.
 
Welch went 2-for-2 from the plate with a double and two RBIs to lead the Slippery Rock offense, while junior outfielder Alaynna Beers went 1-for-3 with a run scored.
 
Lobdell was tagged for the loss after allowing three runs on nine hits in 6.1 innings. She struck out four and only walked one batter as her record fell to 6-5 this spring.
 
Olivia Gumbata picked up the victory after allowing two runs (one earned) on eight hits and seven strikeouts against The Rock.
 
In the nightcap, sophomore Megan Maloney singled to lead off the bottom of the first before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt. Sophomore Ashley Samluk stroked a RBI single up the middle to give The Rock an early 1-0 lead.
 
Freshman pitcher Carly DeRose was dominant for The Rock, blanking the Golden Knights' offense through five innings. The Gannon bats awoke in the sixth, however, as Alyssa Bates doubled to lead off the bottom of the frame. Back-to-back bunts plated the runner and tied the game at 1-1 heading to the seventh.
 
The Rock put a pair of runners on in the top of the seventh, but was unable to capitalize. After a leadoff walk and stolen base for Gannon, Rachel Zimmers ended the game with a RBI single to give the Golden Knights a 2-1 victory and second consecutive walk-off win.
 
DeRose picked up the loss after allowing two runs on six hits in 6.2 innings. She walked three and struck three as her record fell to 3-7 on the season.
 
Samluk went 2-for-3 with a RBI and Maloney was 1-for-1 with two walks and a run to lead a quiet offensive performance for Slippery Rock.
 
Jess Rectenwald recorded the win to move to 6-3 after allowing one run on three hits and seven walks in 7 innings.
 
The losses drop Slippery Rock to 9-14 overall and 5-5 in PSAC-West action, while Gannon improved 11-11 overall and 4-4 in conference play.
 
The Rock returns to PSAC-West action Saturday, April 12 against Mercyhurst. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m. from the SRU Softball Complex.