SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa.- The Slippery Rock University softball team split a doubleheader against California University of Pennsylvania Saturday afternoon at the SRU Softball Complex.
In Game One, Slippery Rock battled back from a 4-0 deficit with three runs in the sixth and one more in the seventh to send the game to extra innings, but the Vulcans recorded six runs in the top of the ninth en route to a 10-4 win
.
In Game Two, The Rock recorded one run apiece in the second and third innings and held off the surging Vulcans in the seventh inning to get a 2-1 win. The Rock has not beaten California at home since March 30, 2010.
The split moves Slippery Rock to 11-18 overall and 5-7 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. California is now 16-12 overall and 7-5 in conference action.
GAME ONE: California 10, Slippery Rock 4 (Nine innings)
The Vulcans plated one run in the third inning, two in the fourth and one more in the fifth inning to get out to a 4-0 lead.
The Rock came alive in the sixth inning when
Nicole Siciliano scored
Caitlin Baxter on a single through the left side.
Machala Andrews scored
Caitlyn MacKelvey on her fourth RBI of the season with a single to shortstop.
McKenzie Garland stole third and scored on a California throwing error to cut SRU's deficit to just one run.
In the seventh inning,
Megan Brown tied things up at 4-4 when she stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on another wild pitch. California left two runners on base in the bottom half of the inning, but was unable score as the game went into extra innings.
California put the game away in the ninth inning when they scored six runs, thanks in part to Kaylyn Roose's grand slam to left field.
Offensively,
Emily Nagle was 3-for-5, while Brown and Baxter each had two hits. Siciliano and Andrews both recorded RBIs.
Paige Flore took the loss after pitching 4.1 innings and striking out three batters.
Carly DeRose got the start and struck out three in four innings.
Andria Copelli pitched 0.2 innings of relief in the ninth.
GAME TWO: Slippery Rock 2, California 1
In the second inning,
Kailey Myers got things started with a single through the left side.
Megan Ross had an infield single that advanced Myers and Siciliano, who walked the at-bat before.
Alexa Guglielmino scored Siciliano on a sacrifice fly to left field to give The Rock a 1-0 lead.
Myers gave Slippery Rock a two-run lead in the third inning with a sacrifice fly to right field to score Brown.
California recorded three hits and scored one run in the seventh inning, but their rally fell short as SRU held on to win 2-1.
Brown registered two hits in the win, while Myers and Guglielmino each had one RBI apiece.
Brooke Dawson struck out four in her eighth win of the year.
Slippery Rock will host Point Park University Tuesday, April 18 starting at 3 p.m.
