INDIANA, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University softball team was swept in its season-opening Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division doubleheader at Indiana University (Pa.) Friday.
IUP (2-0, 2-0 PSAC West) opened the twin bill with a 10-7 victory over The Rock (0-2, 0-2 PSAC West) before completing the sweep with a 10-3 win in game two.
Slippery Rock was led on the day by newcomer
Erin Gardner, who went 5-for-7 with two runs, two RBI and a pair of walks over the doubleheader.
Kaitlyn Bowman and
Leah Vith combined for two RBI and four hits while
Regan Hozak added two RBI of her own in game one.
Game One: IUP 10, Rock 7
Slippery Rock jumped out to an early 6-0 lead, but the Crimson Hawks stormed back with 10 runs over the final four innings to secure a 10-7 victory.
Despite not recording a hit in the opening inning, SRU gained an early 3-0 lead after taking advantage of four walks, two batters being hit by a pitch and one error.
The Rock added to their lead in the bottom of the third thanks to a pair of run-scoring singles by Bowman and Hozak, who drove in two runs with her hit, against Crimson Hawk reliever Alyssa Cappa (0-0) to take a six-run lead heading into the fourth inning.
However, Indiana responded by scoring 10 runs over the final three frames to secure the comeback victory.
The rally started when IUP's offense came alive for nine runs over the fourth and fifth innings to give the Crimson Hawks a three-run advantage. IUP added an additional insurance run in the top of the seventh and Amanda Fischer (1-0) ended The Rock's comeback attempt in the bottom of the inning by stranding a pair of SRU base runners to preserve the win.
SRU starting pitcher
Chloe Sharman (0-0) allowed five runs on six hits over four innings of work while walking three and striking out four before giving way to
Claire Zimmerman (0-2) who allowed an additional five runs on four hits over the final three frames.
Bowman led The Rock offense in game one with two hits and an RBI while Hozak added two RBI and a run scored. Vith and Gardner also recorded 2-for-4 outings with Vith being credited with one RBI.
Fischer allowed just one unearned run over 4.2 innings while striking out seven batters out of the IUP bullpen. Hull paced the Indiana offense with three RBI and three runs scored.
Game Two: IUP 10, Rock 3
Highlighted by back-to-back RBI-singles from Gardner and
Anna Villies, Slippery Rock held a 3-1 lead through three innings, but the Crimson Hawks responded with eight runs over the final stages of the game to secure a 10-3 game two victory.
Errors plagued The Rock in game two as IUP capitalized on six miscues to score nine unearned runs. Three of the errors came during a critical six-run fourth inning.
Zimmerman, the game two starter in the circle, took the loss after allowing five runs on five hits while striking out four over 3.2 innings of work before being relieved by
Kelsi Anderson who allowed five runs, none of which were earned, on four hits and two walks in addition to five strikeouts in her first collegiate appearance.
Gardner highlighted the Slippery Rock offense in game two, going 3-for-3 with an RBI, while
Cami Fisk added a 2-for-2 showing at the plate with a double.
Bella Bucy (1-0) picked up the complete-game victory after giving up three runs on seven hits and one walk. Kaitlyn Beers drove in two runs in the victory for Indiana.
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock returns to action when it travels back to IUP to complete the doubleheader March 9th with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
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