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SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University softball team celebrated Senior Day with a split of a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division doubleheader against Gannon Sunday from the SRU Softball Complex.
 
The Rock offense stalled in Game 1 as the visiting Golden Knights squeaked out a 2-0 win in the opener. Slippery Rock jumped out to an early lead in the nightcap and hung on for a 3-2 win to salvage a split in the doubleheader.
 
In the opener, Gannon struck first with a two-run home run from sophomore Alyssa Bates in the top of the first inning. With a 2-0 lead, Golden Knights freshman pitcher Gumbita stymied The Rock's offense to just three hits in a complete game shutout.
 
Gumbita recorded 14 consecutive outs before freshman Caitlin Baxter singled down the left field line to give The Rock its first hit in the bottom of the fifth. Consecutive hits in the bottom of the sixth put a pair of Slippery Rock runners on, but Gumbita was able to escape unscathed and hung on for the 2-0 win in Game 1.
 
Sophomore shortstop Katie Kaiser went 1-for-3, while Baxter and sophomore Ashley Samluk each went 1-for-2 to lead the SRU offense.
 
Senior pitcher Bethany Beutel made her first start of the season and was tagged with the loss after allowing two runs on one hit and three walks in 0.1 innings. Senior Emily Lobdell appeared in relief and scattered four hits across 6.2 shutout innings.
 
Gumbita recorded the win after striking out five and allowing just three hits in a complete game shutout victory for Gannon.
 
In the nightcap, Slippery Rock jumped ahead on a towering two-run home run off the bat of Samluk in the first inning.
 
Freshman pitcher Carly DeRose turned in another strong performance as she blanked the visitors through the first four innings of Game 2. Gannon's bats awoke in the fifth, however, as the Golden Knights opened the inning with back-to-back singles. After a groundout advanced the runners into scoring position, sophomore Rachel deGuia tied the game with a two out, two-RBI single to left field.
 
The Rock answered right back with a run in the bottom of the fifth on a RBI single up the middle from Kaiser. Gannon doubled with two outs in the seventh, but DeRose clamped down to record the final out and give SRU the 3-2 win in Game 2.
 
Samluk went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored to pace The Rock's offense in the nightcap. Kaiser went 1-for-2 with a RBI and run scored, while senior Lindsey Kelenske went 1-for-3 with a double and senior Breanna Tongel went 1-for-2.
 
DeRose picked up her second consecutive complete game victory to improve to 5-7 on the season. She allowed two runs on eight hits in seven innings.
 
The Rock moves to 12-15 overall and 8-6 in PSAC-West play after the split, while Gannon moves to 14-12 overall and 7-5 in conference play.
 
Slippery Rock returns to PSAC-West action Tuesday, April 15 at Edinboro. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.