MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Slippery Rock University softball team split its first two games of the season in matchups against Southern New Hampshire University and Georgian Court University in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
 
The Rock earned a 5-4 victory in game one over SNH after some late clutch hitting. In game two, SRU was held to just two hits and one run, falling to GCU, 6-1.
 
Megan Brown tallied three hits and three stolen bases on the day while Camie Shumaker went 1-1 pitching in both games.
 
Slippery Rock improved to 1-1 to begin its 2019 campaign.
 
GAME ONE: Slippery Rock 5 – Southern New Hampshire 4
The Rock mustered 10 hits en route to the victory while Andria Copelli and Shumaker had solid days in the circle to help SRU to its first win of the year.
 
Following efficient play from both teams in the first three innings, Slippery Rock scored first in the top of the fourth. Adeline Nicholson reached on an error, but on the play, Brown came around to score. Maggie Moore then singled to left scoring pinch-runner Julia Cepis to give The Rock the advantage, 2-0.
 
The Penmen tallied a run in the bottom of the inning, but Slippery Rock answered back with two more in the top of the fifth. Caitlyn MacKelvey roped an RBI triple scoring pinch-runner Cortney Claypoole. Brown later slapped a single to score MacKelvey from third giving The Rock a 4-1 lead.
 
In the sixth, Southern New Hampshire tallied three runs to knot the contest up, 4-4. However, SRU put two runners on for Myers in the top of the seventh and she came through big with an RBI single scoring Brown, putting Slippery Rock ahead, 5-4.
 
Shumaker, who entered the game in the bottom of the fourth, slammed the door in the bottom of the seventh to nail down the win.
 
Copelli, who started the contest, went 3.0 innings allowing two hits and surrendered one unearned run.
 
Shumaker got the win going 4.0 innings allowing just one earned run on five hits.
 
GAME TWO: Slippery Rock 1 – Georgian Court 6
Game two proved to be a bit of a different story as SRU was no-hit through 5.2 innings. The Rock tallied just one run in the top half the seventh and surrendered three in the third inning and three in the sixth inning.
 
The Lions scored third inning on a sac fly from Malaya Black that opening up scoring. Marissa Trezza later singled scoring Caitlin Hughes and Kendalia Turner putting GCU ahead, 3-0.
 
In the sixth, Samantha Salomon put up a crooked number with a three-run home run to left field giving Georgian Court a 6-0 lead.
 
GCU's Mikayla Gilbert was keeping the SRU bats at bay allowing just one hit through 5.2, but The Rock got into the hit column on a single from Myers.
 
In the seventh, Slippery Rock looked to mount a comeback when Aubrey Allen registered her first career hit and RBI with a single through the right-side scoring Claypoole. Unfortunately, the one run was all SRU could tally and fell, 6-1.
 
Mikayla Gilbert (1-0) registered the win for the Lions going 6.0 innings allowing one hit while punching out one and walking one.
 
Shumaker (1-1) took the loss giving up three runs (one earned) on four hits while striking out two.
 
Chloe Sharman saw her first career action from the circle going 3.0 innings allowing three earned runs on four hits while punching out two.
 
Slippery Rock will continue the weekend with another double-header in Myrtle Beach. The Rock will play fourth-ranked Saint Anselm 10 a.m. Saturday and then will battle Merrimack at 12 p.m.
 
Scoring updates and recaps will be posted when that information becomes available.
 
 
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