Live Stats - Seton Hill (Sat.) I
Live Stats - Cal U (Sun.)SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University softball team opens up Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division play this weekend with matchups at Seton Hill Saturday and at California (Pa.) Sunday.
The Rock opens the weekend with a double header Saturday at Seton Hill, then turns its attention to a double header at California (Pa.) Sunday. The first game of each matchup will begin at 1 p.m., with the second game of each scheduled for 3 p.m.
GAME COVERAGEThe Seton Hill and California athletic communication departments have made live stats available for all games and are linked at the top of this page. Updates will also be available via the official SRU Twitter account (
@Rock_Athletics).
SCOUTING THE ROCKRecord: 3-7
Last Five: 1-4
Overview: Slippery Rock's offense has struggled to get on track early in the season, ranking 15th in batting average and 14th in runs scored (3.1 runs per game) among PSAC teams. The pitching staff has done their job, however, with a 2.94 team ERA and .226 batting average against (t-2nd in PSAC). Slippery Rock is 3-2 when scoring three or more runs, but is 0-5 when scoring two or fewer runs.
Top Bats: Sophomore outfielder
Eliza Sykes is on a team-high five-game hitting streak, leads the team with a .333 batting average and is tied for the team lead with four runs scored, while junior outfielder
Megan Maloney is batting .300 and leads the team with nine hits and six stolen bases. Junior
Stacey Herzog is batting .294 with four runs, while freshman catcher
Lauren Hawley has recorded a team-high six RBI.
Top Arms: Sophomore
Carly DeRose is 1-4, but leads The Rock with a 2.50 ERA. In six starts, DeRose has allowed 17 runs (12 earned), with 19 strikeouts and four complete games, while holding opponents to a .230 batting average in 33.2 innings pitched. Freshman lefty
Brooke Dawson ranks 5th in the conference with a .208 batting average against and was named PSAC-West Pitcher of the Week in the first week of her collegiate debut. In five appearances (four starts), Dawson is 2-2 with a 2.84 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 24.2 innings pitched.
Head Coach: Slippery Rock head coach
Stacey Rice enters her first season in 2015 after serving three years as an assistant coach and two years as a graduate assistant with The Rock. Before beginning her coaching career at SRU, Rice was one of the most decorated players and prolific hitters in program history. Rice holds the all-time records for runs scored, hits, doubles, total bases, walks and at-bats while ranking second all-time in home runs and RBIs.
Next Up: Slippery Rock is scheduled to return to the SRU Softball Complex Tuesday, March 24 against Pitt-Johnstown in The Rock's home opener. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
SCOUTING THE GRIFFINSRecord: 8-2
Last Five: 4-1
All-Time Series: SRU owns a 6-3 advantage in the all-time series against Seton Hill dating back to 2005. Seton Hill has won three consecutive since
Emily Lobdell's complete game shutout guided The Rock to a 6-0 win over the Griffins last spring.
Overview: Seton Hill is 8-0 this season when scoring more than two runs. The Griffins rank near the top of the PSAC in all major batting and pitching categories. SHU leads the conference with a .413 batting average and ranks third with 68 runs scored (6.8 runs per game). From the mound, Seton Hill has limited opponents to a PSAC best .220 batting average and ranks third with a 1.82 ERA.
Top Bats: The Griffins have three players in the top five of the PSAC in batting average, led by senior Christine Henderson with a .576 average. Junior Kaitlyn Kutchman isn't far behind with a .567 average, followed by super sophomore Carlee Wickstrom with a .515 average. Wickstrom and Henderson lead the team with 13 and 12 runs scored, respectively, while Kutchman's 18 RBI rank second in the PSAC.
Top Arms: Sophomore Amanda Huff anchors the rotation. In four starts, Huff has compiled a 3-1 record with a 1.35 ERA after three complete games, a shutout and 22 strikeouts in 26.0 innings pitched. Henderson has made three appearances and is 1-1 with a 3.64 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 17.1 innings pitched.
Head Coach: Bill Monstrola is in his first year at the helm of the Griffins. He brings 10 years of collegiate coaching experience to Seton Hill, after spending the past four seasons as head coach of the University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg.
SCOUTING THE VULCANSRecord: 6-4
Last Five: 3-2
All-Time Series: Cal U owns an 83-24 advantage in the all-time series dating back to 1977 against SRU. The Vulcans have won seven straight over The Rock, with SRU's last win coming during the 2012 season.
Overview: California's tough non-conference schedule has featured three nationally ranked opponents. The Vulcans are 1-2 with a 7-3 win over No. 23 West Virginia Wesleyan. Cal U ranks second in the conference with a .343 batting average and near the middle of the conference with 52 runs scored (5.2 per game). From the mound, California ranks seventh in ERA (2.52) and sixth in opponents batting average (.242).
Top Bats: Junior Lindsey Reicoff's .552 batting average and 15 RBI rank fourth in the PSAC. Reicoff leads the team with nine runs and is tied for the conference lead with four home runs. Senior Breanna Morris and Sophomore Kaity Finley provide plenty of support with six runs apiece and are hitting .424 and .417, respectively.
Top Arms: Junior Alex Sagl leads the Vulcans with four starts and six appearances. Sagl is 1-2 with a 2.57 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 30.0 innings pitched. Junior Meghan Uher has made five appearances and is 3-1 with a 2.00 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 21.0 innings pitched, while junior Haley Bashada is a perfect 2-0 with a 1.14 ERA over 12.1 innings.
Head Coach: Entering his 21st season at Cal U, Rick Bertagnolli has enjoyed a decorated coaching career. He was inducted into the NFCA Hall of Fame after being named the National Coach of the Year twice, the Regional Coach of the Year four times and PSAC-West Coach of the Year 13 times. Entering the year, his 967-277 career record ranked fourth among active Division II coaches. Bertagnolli has led Cal U to 18 NCAA Tournament appearances, including back-to-back National Championships in 1997 and 1998.
