GREENSBURG, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University softball team split a doubleheader in its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference opener at Seton Hill University Saturday afternoon.
 
Slippery Rock's offense exploded for a season-high 13 runs as The Rock defeated Seton Hill 13-5 in the first game. Seton Hill plated five runs in the first inning of the second game and hung on to defeat SRU 5-2 to salvage the split.
 
In the opener, 10 players, including all nine starters, scored for The Rock to mark the first time 10 different players scored a run in a single game since a 17-0 win over Johnson C. Smith in 2010.
 
Junior shortstop Katie Kaiser had a huge day from the lead-off position, going 4-for-5 with three runs, three RBI, a home run and a stolen base in game one. Kaiser finished the day with five hits (5-for-9) and two stolen bases in addition to her game one production.
 
Seniors Alaynna Beers and Taylor Welch shined from the plate as well. Beers finished the day 4-for-7 with a run scored, a RBI and a stolen base, while Welch went 2-for-4 with two runs, two RBI, two walks, a stolen base and a double.
 
Game 1: Slippery Rock 13 – Seton Hill 5
Seton Hill pitcher Amanda Huff worked two scoreless innings before stepping up to the plate and helping her own cause with a solo blast to right-center, giving the Griffins a 1-0 lead after two.
 
Slippery Rock wasted little time in generating a response. Freshman Allie Fischer led off the third with a double to center, before Kaiser sent a 0-1 pitch over the centerfield wall to put SRU ahead 2-1. A double steal from Megan Maloney and Ashley Samluk put pressure on the Griffins' defense and forced a throwing error allowing each to score and push the lead to 4-1 after three.
 
The Rock tacked on four more in the top of the fifth to go up 8-1. Kaiser and Maloney led off with singles and advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt, before freshman Lauren Hawley plated a run on a fielder's choice and back-to-back RBI singles from Beers and sophomore McKenzie Popatak. Welch capped the inning with a successful squeeze play.
 
The Griffins answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth, but SRU stormed right back with two more in the top of the sixth to lead 10-2. A trio of Rock errors in the bottom of the sixth allowed three unearned runs and chased sophomore starter Carly DeRose from the mound, but classmate Sarah Petrash stepped in as things got interesting and shut down the Griffins' rally.
 
Consecutive doubles from Popatak and Welch plated a pair of runs for The Rock, before Kaiser's fourth hit of the game and third RBI gave SRU the 13-5 victory.
 
Four Slippery Rock players recorded multiple hits, led by Kaiser and Beers. Maloney went 2-for-4 with two runs, a RBI and a stolen base, while Popatak went 2-for-3 with a walk, a run and a RBI.
 
DeRose (2-4) earned the victory after allowing two runs (two earned) on six hits and five strikeouts in 5.0 innings pitched.
 
Petrash came on in relief and allowed three runs (zero earned) on one hit and two strikeouts over the final two innings.
 
Game 2: Seton Hill 5 – Slippery Rock 2
The Griffins shook off the poor performance in game one and plated five runs in the bottom of the first inning. Seton Hill took advantage of a pair of walks and a wild pitch to push five runs across, capped by a three run blast by Perillo to give SHU the early 5-0 lead.
 
Sophomore starting pitcher for The Rock, Brooke Dawson, settled down from there and cruised through the next three innings without allowing a run to keep SRU in the game.
 
Samluk led off the top of the fourth with a double to right field and scored on a RBI single from Beers to bring the score to 5-1.
 
In the final inning, Welch walked to lead off the inning and set up a late SRU rally. Stacey Herzog pinch-hit and scorched a triple down the right field line to bring The Rock within striking distance at 5-2 with SRU's hottest hitter at the plate, but Kaiser lined into a double play to end the game.
 
Dawson (2-3) was tagged with the loss after allowing five runs on four hits, two walks and four strikeouts in 4.0 innings pitched. Freshman Paige Flore appeared in relief and threw two scoreless innings without allowing a hit.
 
Up Next
Slippery Rock returns to action Sunday at California (Pa.). First game of the doubleheader is set for 1 p.m.