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ERIE, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University softball team bounced back from a 3-2 walk-off loss in Game 1 to defeat Mercyhurst 9-8 in Game 2 and salvage a split in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division action from Erie, Pa. Thursday afternoon.
 
In the opener, The Rock jumped on top 1-0 in the first inning after a Mercyhurst error and RBI single from sophomore clean-up hitter Ashley Samluk. The score remained 1-0 until the top of the sixth, when a double steal allowed Samluk to score and increase SRU's lead to 2-0.
 
Senior pitcher Emily Lobdell allowed just three hits as she cruised through the first six innings of work. Trailing 2-0 and down to their final out in the seventh, Mercyhurst put two runners on after a walk and a seeing-eye single. Shortstop Megan Smith delivered a crushing three-run home run to give the Lakers the walk-off 3-2 victory in Game 1.
 
Lakers' pitcher Annie Truelove quieted the Slippery Rock offense, scattering five hits in seven innings to pick up the win. Smith went 2-for-3 with a run, three RBIs, a double and a homer to lead the Mercyhurst offense.
 
Samluk went 1-for-2 with a walk, run and RBI, while junior outfielder Alaynna Beers went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles to lead the offense of SRU. Lobdell was tagged for the loss and dropped to 7-6 on the season after allowing three runs on five hits in 6.2 innings.
 
The Rock's offense wasted little time getting going in Game 2 as the visitors exploded for six runs in the top of the first. Slippery Rock loaded the bases with no outs before sophomore Megan Maloney scored on a sacrifice fly to left field from Samluk. The Lakers' right fielder couldn't handle a shot from Rock senior first baseman Breanna Tongel, producing two more runs for SRU. Freshman Caitlin Baxter capped the inning with a three-run blast to put The Rock ahead 6-0 after one.
 
Mercyhurst got one back in the bottom of the first, before junior Taylor Welch belted a solo home run to push the score to 7-1 in the second frame. The Lakers snuck back into the game with a four run outburst in the bottom of the second. Smith smacked her second three-run home run to highlight the inning for Mercyhurst.
 
Sophomore shortstop Katie Kaiser launched a two-run home run in the top of the fourth to put The Rock in front 9-5. The Lakers answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth and crept within one with a two-run blast in the bottom of the sixth, but freshman pitcher Carly DeRose slammed the door to seal the 9-8 victory for The Rock.
 
Kaiser paced the Slippery Rock offense with a 3-for-4 performance with two runs, two RBI, a home run and stolen base. Welch went 1-for-2 with two walks, three runs and a RBI, while Baxter went 1-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs. Maloney went 2-for-4 with a run scored to cap the top offensive performers for The Rock.
 
DeRose picked up the win to improve to 6-7 on the season after allowing eight runs (six earned) on 11 hits in seven innings.
 
With the split, The Rock moves to 13-16 overall and into third place in the division at 9-7 in the PSAC-West. Mercyhurst falls to 12-20 overall and 6-10 in conference play.
 
Slippery Rock returns to PSAC-West play Friday at Seton Hill. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 2:30 p.m.