COLONIAL HEIGHTS, Va. – The Slippery Rock University softball team swept a doubleheader at Virginia State Saturday afternoon. Camie Shumaker recorded a win and a save in the circle.
 
SRU won game one of the doubleheader, 6-3. Brooke Dawson pitched four strong innings and had help from Becca Roesch who went 3-for-4 with an RBI.
 
In game two, Shumaker dazzled on in the circle hurling a complete-game shutout. The Rock needed just three runs in the seventh to earn the win.
 
Slippery Rock improves to 5-2 on the season, its best seven-game start to a season since 2011 where it was also 5-2.
 
GAME ONE: Slippery Rock 6 – Virginia State 3
After getting one run in the first inning, Slippery Rock tallied a big four-run third to coast its way to victory over the Trojans. Dawson registered her second win of the season in the circle, while Roesch went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Allie Fischer went 1-for-4 with a triple and three RBI.
 
In the first inning, SRU got on the scoreboard after Emily Nagle led off the game with a walk. She later stole second and eventually scored on an RBI single by Roesch.
 
Following a scoreless second, Nagle started the third inning with a single. She took second on a sac bunt by Megan Brown. After Roesch grounded out, Lauren Hawley singled to drive in Nagle to make it a 2-0 game. Kailey Myers and McKenzie Garland then walked to load the bases and Fischer cleared them with a three-run triple and gave SRU a 5-0 lead.
 
Dawson held the Trojans scoreless through three frames before surrendering two runs (one earned) in the bottom of the fourth.
 
Camie Shumaker entered the circle in relief in the fifth inning, and in the sixth, the Trojans tacked on one more run on an RBI single to cut the lead to 5-3.
 
However, SRU added one run in the seventh inning when Garland roped an RBI single to score pinch-runner Caitlyn MacKelvey.
 
Shumaker then hurled a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh, earning a save, and securing The Rock's 6-3 victory.
 
Dawson (2-2) earned the win going 4.0 innings surrendering two runs (one earned) on five hits and punching out three.
 
Shumaker tallied her first career save after throwing 3.0 innings allowing one run and striking out one. 
 
GAME TWO: Slippery Rock 3 – Virginia State 0
Nagle, Roesch and Alexa Guglielmino each came across to score in the final inning. Shumaker was dominant on the mound as she hurled a complete-game shutout in the 3-0 victory.
 
Prior to the last inning, SRU's best chance to score was in the fourth. Leah Vith led off the inning with a walk. Fischer bunted her over to second and Vith  advanced to third on a passed ball. However, Virginia State tallied two straight outs to end the threat.
 
In the fifth, MacKelvey started the inning with a single. She then stole second and advanced to third on a 4-3 ground out. Unfortunately, SRU tallied two consecutive outs again and closed the frame.
 
The Rock finally got on the board in the seventh as Guglielmino got on with a single. Nagle would later single putting two runners on. Roesch later singled to score both Nagle and Guglielmino to make it 2-0. Vith then roped a single to drive in Roesch to make it a 3-0 contest.
 
The three runs would be all Shumaker (2-0) needed as she hurled 7.0 shutout innings surrendering four hits and punching out six.
 
Slippery Rock will be back in action tomorrow for another doubleheader at Virginia State. First pitch is set for 10 a.m. Score updates will be posted when that information becomes available.



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