SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University softball team split a pair of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division games against Gannon University Thursday afternoon at the SRU Softball Complex. Following a 7-6 comeback win in game one, SRU fell in game two, 6-1.
Maggie Moore tallied two hits and the game-tying RBI and
Leah Vith registered the game-winning RBI, while
Camie Shumaker got the win in game one.
In game two, Gannon plated four unearned runs in the top of the fifth inning breaking the tie and eventually winning, 6-1.
With the split, Slippery Rock goes to 13-20 overall and 5-5 in PSAC West matchups.
Game One: Slippery Rock 7 – Gannon 6
Both teams tallied nine hits in an evenly matched game one, but it was SRU's four-run fifth, and an insurance run in the sixth that proved to be the difference.
Gannon struck first in the top of the seventh on a throwing error scoring Autumn Smith. In the bottom of the inning, The Rock plated two.
Becca Roesch registered and RBI single scoring Moore, and
Regan Hozak would reach on a throwing error allowing Roesch to come home.
Maria Taliani and Lisa Szajn gave Gannon the lead in the top of the third. Following an RBI double from Taliani. Szajn then singled through the left side giving Gannon a 3-2 lead.
The following inning, Gannon padded its lead with a two-run home run from Sarah Ingerick, putting GU ahead, 5-2.
SRU's big comeback came in the bottom of the fifth. With the bases loaded,
Caitlyn MacKelvey was hit by a pitch scoring
Cortney Claypoole.
Adeline Nicholson then singled to score
Alexa Guglielmino, and Moore followed with an RBI single of her own tying the game up. Vith then drew the bases-loaded walk giving SRU a lead, 6-5.
Slippery Rock added what proved to be a big insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when Guglielmino scored on a wild pitch.
Gannon aimed to make a comeback of its own when Rachel Tanilli homered to left cutting the deficit to one, but
Chloe Sharman settled down to get the final out, holding on for the Rock win, 7-6.
Shumaker (W, 9-9) earned the win going 5.0 innings allowing five runs (three earned) on eight hits and one walk, while punching out four.
Sharman (S, 1) got her first save of the season surrendering just the one run on one hit in two innings pitched.
Kennedy Dematteis (L, 6-5) took the loss going 4.0 innings giving up six runs on eight hits and one walk, while striking out one.
Game Two: Slippery Rock 1 – Gannon 6
The Golden Knights used their power to push ahead of The Rock and never looked back slugging three home runs in the contest.
SRU got on the board first when Nicholson singled scoring Guglielmino in the bottom of the third.
GU answered back in the top of the fourth with a solo home run by Tanilli.
In the top of the fifth, SRU got the first two outs, but had two runners on base. Following an error, Kaity Stocker clubbed a three-run home run to left putting Gannon ahead, 4-1. Tanilli then followed with her second home run of the game going back-to-back.
The Golden Knights added one more in the top of the seventh and SRU was not unable to make a comeback falling, 6-1.
Gannon's Madi Beining (W, 8-5) took the loss throwing the complete game surrendering one unearned run on five hits, while striking out seven.
Shumaker took the no-decision after 4.1 innings pitched and allowing one run on five hits.
Sharman (L, 4-6) got the loss going 0.1 innings surrendering four runs (all unearned) on two hits and a walk.
Andria Copelli also pitched in the contest allowing one run on three hits and two walks over 2.1 innings.
Up Next
Slippery Rock will continue its homestand when it hosts California University of Pennsylvania Saturday for a pair of PSAC West games. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
To stay up to date with all that happens at The Rock, follow our official athletic communication accounts on Twitter (@Rock_Athletics), Facebook (RockAthletics), Instagram (RockAthletics) and Snapchat (@RockAthletics).
