SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University softball team outlasted West Liberty University on the road in a 5-4 14-inning win in game one before having game two end in a 4-4 tie after four innings due to darkness Wednesday.
 
Slippery Rock improves its record to 9-10-1 overall while West Liberty moves to 16-11-1 on the season.
 
Through two contests, The Rock was led by Anna Villies who ended the day 3-for-8 with two runs scored and two RBI.
 
Also aiding SRU's offense over two games was Erin Gardner who went 4-for-7 with a double over two games as The Rock's leadoff hitter. Arielle Brown, SRU's No. 2 hitter in the lineup, was 2-for-7 while driving in one run, scoring once, stealing a base and drawing a walk as well.
 
GAME ONE: SRU 5 – WLU 4 (14 Innings)
A seven-inning battle between SRU and West Liberty in which neither team could register a run in regulation prompted extra innings as The Rock and Hilltoppers went back-and-forth before Slippery Rock was able to score the game-deciding run in the 14th frame to claim a 5-4 win.
 
A pitcher's duel ensued for through the first seven innings of the contest. Kelsi Anderson striking out seven batters and allowing just four hits and no runs for the Rock.
 
In the circle for WLU to open game one was Mackenzie Amend who answered Anderson by no-hitting SRU over her five innings pitched in addition to striking out eight batters before giving way to Annie Patterson (3-5). Patterson struck out two additional batters through her first two frames pitched while maintaining the no-hitter to keep the score knotted 0-0 and force extra innings.
 
Slippery Rock opened its scoring efforts in the eighth inning with a one-RBI single by Villies that scored Mikala Swearingen. The Hilltoppers answered with a run scored off of a throwing error by SRU to end the inning tied 1-1.
 
After two scoreless innings from both teams through the ninth and 10th frames, The Rock and WLU went on to exchange runs through the next three innings resulting in a 4-4 tie entering the 14th.
 
With Emma Kennedy on third base following a sacrifice bunt by Julianna Hutchinson, Julia Montie drove a flyball to centerfield that was more than deep enough to score Kennedy, giving SRU another one-run lead before Paterson could get out of the inning.
In the bottom of the 14th frame with one out, the SRU defense clinched the victory via a game-ending double play. 
 
Anderson ended her time in the circle allowing one unearned run on five hits with striking out seven batters and walking four over eight innings pitched before giving way to Chloe Sharman (3-3).
 
Sharman took the win after allowing three runs, none of which were earned, on three hits while striking out three batters and walking two over six innings of work.
 
The Rock's offense was led through game one by Villies who was 2-for-6 with two RBI and a run scored while Brown, Hozak and Montie all drove in one run apiece. Gardner tied the team-high in hits with two.
 
The Hilltopper offense was paced by Lauren Garcia who went 1-for-1 with two RBI. Paterson was the pitcher of record for WLU after allowing five runs, none of which were earned, on seven hits in addition to striking out seven batters and walking just one in nine innings pitched.
 
GAME TWO: SRU 4 – WLU 4 (5 Innings)
Slippery Rock and the Hilltoppers played out to a 4-4 tie through five innings before the game was halted due to darkness.
 
The Rock was led by Cami Fisk who went 1-for-2 with two RBI. Kennedy registered a hit and drove in one run while Alexsa Hurd tallied one RBI as well. Gardner had a team-high two hits in game two. Brown, Freeman, Kennedy and Villies all scored one run apiece for SRU.
 
In the circle, Hurd allowed four runs on eight hits in addition to striking out five batters and walking just two over an abbreviated five innings pitched.
 
Leading the West Liberty offense was Paterson who went 2-for-3 with one RBI. Hilltopper pitcher Riley Bennington allowed four runs on six hits while striking out two batters and walking two over five innings of work.
 
Slippery Rock returns to Pennsylvania to host Clarion University in a non-conference doubleheader Friday with first pitch of game one set for 2:30 p.m. at the SRU Softball Complex.



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