Softball 3/24/2016 1:25:00 PM - Madeline Williams, Athletic Communication

Rock set for PSAC openers against Cal U and Seton Hill

The SRU softball team opens up Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division play this weekend with home matchups against No. 13 California (Pa.) Friday and Seton Hill Saturday.

Live Stats | Slippery Rock Stats | Cal U Stats | Seton Hill Stats

Slippery Rock, Pa.- The Slippery Rock University softball team opens up Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division play this weekend with home matchups against No. 13 California (Pa.) Friday and Seton Hill Saturday at the SRU Softball Complex.

The Rock kicks off the weekend with a doubleheader Friday against Cal U at 2:30, before turning its attention to a doubleheader against Seton Hill Saturday at 1 p.m.

GAME COVERAGE
The Slippery Rock University Athletic Communication office will provide live statistics of both doubleheaders at the link above. Live updates will also be posted to the Official SRU Athletics Twitter account (@Rock_Athletics).

SCOUTING THE ROCK
Record: 9-10, 0-0 PSAC-West
Last Five: 2-3
Overview: Slippery Rock's offense has had a fairly slow start this spring, ranking 13th (.234) in batting average and 10th (70) in runs scored among PSAC teams. The SRU pitching staff posts a 2.52 team ERA, which ranks sixth in the PSAC and a .221 batting average against, which tags them at fifth.
Top Bats: Senior Megan Maloney leads Slippery Rock with a .333 (21-for-63) batting average, while senior Katie Kaiser (20-for-69) leads the team in runs scored (13), home runs (three) and triples (two). Senior Ashley Samluk is hitting .306 with team-highs in RBI (13) and doubles (six). Additionally, sophomore Emily Nagle's seven stolen bases this spring ranks 8th among the PSAC.
Top Arms: Junior pitcher Carly DeRose (4-3) has an ERA of 1.44 this spring, which ranks 5th in the PSAC. In seven starts, DeRose has allowed 15 runs (10 earned), with 41 strikeouts in four complete games. She ranks third in the conference with a .172 batting average against and was named PSAC-West Pitcher of the Week in the first week of the season. Sophomore lefty Brooke Dawson (2-5) has fanned 33 batters in 10 appearances (six starts), while sophomore Paige Flore (3-2) has struck out 15 in eight appearances (six starts).
Head Coach: Stacey Rice is in her second year at the helm after serving three years as an assistant coach and two years as a graduate assistant with The Rock. Last season, she led SRU to a 15-23 record, just narrowly missing a spot in the PSAC Tournament. Before starting her coaching career at SRU, Rice was one of the most decorated players in program history. She 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.
Up Next: The Rock continues PSAC-West action next weekend at Mercyhurst (Friday, April 1) before hosting Edinboro (Saturday, April 2) and Clarion (Sunday, April 3) at the SRU Softball Complex.

SCOUTING THE VULCANS
Record: 13-1, 0-0 PSAC-West
Last Five: 5-0
Overview: The Vulcans moved up a spot in the national rankings this week from 14th to 13th. The team posts the second-best batting average in the PSAC (.330), while their stellar pitching staff leads the conference with an impressive 0.85 ERA and a .176 batting average against.
Top Bats: Sophomore Hailey Wilson is batting .444 to lead California (16-for-36). Senior Lindsay Relcoff has also recorded 16 hits this season (16-for-40), while leading the team in RBI (15) and home runs (five), and sophomore Emily Price (15-for-41) leads the team in runs scored (16) and doubles (six).
Top Arms: Senior pitcher Alex Sagl (6-1) posts an ERA of 1.18 to anchor the best pitching squad in the PSAC. She has struck out 54, walked 12 and gave up just 29 hits in her nine appearances this spring. Freshman Taylor Robblee (3-0), junior Kaity Davis (2-0) and senior Meghan Uher (2-0) all see time in the rotation.
Head Coach: Rick Bertagnolli is in his 22nd year as head coach at Cal U. Under his leadership, the Vulcans have reached the NCAA Tournament 19 times with back-to-back NCAA National Championships in 1997 and 1998. Bertagnolli is a 14-time PSAC-West Coach of the Year, four-time NFCA Regional Coach of the Year and a two-time NFCA National Coach of the Year in both years Cal U won the national title. In 2013, he was inducted into the NFCA Hall of Fame.

SCOUTING THE GRIFFINS
Record: 7-13, 0-0 PSAC-West
Last Five: 1-4
Overview: Seton Hill ranks just below SRU in the conference batting rankings at 14th (.250), while their pitching staff posts a 4.07 overall ERA.
Top Bats: Redshirt sophomore Abby Suhoski is batting .400 (22-for-55) with team-highs of four home runs and 14 RBI. Junior Carlee Wickstrom has recorded 20 hits and leads the team in runs scored (14).
Top Arms: Senior pitcher Kaitlyn Kutchman (4-1) posts an ERA of 2.96 after striking out 32, walking 17 and allowing 48 hits in 15 appearances. SHU has four other pitchers who see time in the rotation.
Head Coach: Bill Monstrola is in his second 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.

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Players Mentioned

#25 Brooke Dawson: P; 5' 10"; Sophomore; L/L

#21 Carly DeRose: P; 5' 3"; Junior; S/R

#1 Paige Flore: P; 5' 6"; Sophomore; R/R

#4 Katie Kaiser: IF; 5' 4"; Senior; R/R

#26 Megan Maloney: OF; 5' 6"; Senior; L/L

#9 Emily Nagle: OF; 5' 8"; Sophomore; L/R

#2 Ashley Samluk: IF; 5' 7"; Senior; R/R

Players Mentioned

#25 Brooke Dawson
: 5' 10"; Sophomore; L/L
: P

#21 Carly DeRose
: 5' 3"; Junior; S/R
: P

#1 Paige Flore
: 5' 6"; Sophomore; R/R
: P

#4 Katie Kaiser
: 5' 4"; Senior; R/R
: IF

#26 Megan Maloney
: 5' 6"; Senior; L/L
: OF

#9 Emily Nagle
: 5' 8"; Sophomore; L/R
: OF

#2 Ashley Samluk
: 5' 7"; Senior; R/R
: IF