ERIE, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University softball team dropped both games in its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division doubleheader at Mercyhurst University Saturday.
 
The Rock narrowly fell 3-2 in game one to the Lakers before suffering a 7-2 loss in game two. Slippery Rock's record moves to 13-18-1 overall and 2-8 in the conference while Mercyhurst improves to 25-12 overall and 6-6 in the PSAC West.
 
For the third time this season, Kelsi Anderson (8-6) struck out double-digit batters with 10 in addition to allowing three runs, just one of which was earned, over a complete-game effort in game one.
 
Leading the offense for SRU over the doubleheader was freshman Alexsa Hurd who went 2-for-5 with two runs scored, two RBI and a home run - the third of her collegiate career.
 
GAME ONE: MU 3 – SRU 2
Mercyhurst jumped out to an early three-run lead that a late attempted Rock rally would fall short of overcoming in an eventual 3-2 Lakers win.
 
Trailing 3-0 entering the fourth inning, SRU cut its deficit to two runs courtesy of a solo homer to left field by Hurd on the second pitch of her at bat.
 
Cami Fisk looked to continue the rally as she hit a double to right center before stealing third with two outs in the inning. However, Mercyhurst registered the final out of the inning to maintain its two-run lead.
 
A pitching battle ensued between Anderson and Mikaela Schramski (11-6). Anderson struck out four of the six batters she faced while Schramski struck out two of the eight she pitched to as well as stranding two runners on base over the next two innings.
 
In a final comeback bid in the seventh, Emma Kennedy reached first on a single before later scoring on a Lakers throwing error. However, Schramski would get out of the jam by stranding two Rock runners on base again to seal the 3-2 Lakers win.
 
SRU was paced in game one by Hurd who went 1-for-3 with a solo home run. Kennedy was 1-for-3 with one run scored while Fisk was 1-for-3 with a stolen base. Arielle Brown, Mackenzie Freeman, Naomi Childs and Anna Villies all tallied one hit a piece as well.
 
Anderson was the pitcher of record for SRU after allowing three runs, just one being earned, on six hits in addition to striking out 10 batters and walking four in a complete-game effort.
Schramski took the win after allowing two runs, only one being earned, on seven hits as well as striking out nine batters and walking only one over seven innings of work.
 
GAME TWO: MU 7 – SRU 2
Slippery Rock was unable to salvage a split in game two as Mercyhurst closed out the sweep with a 7-2 win.
 
Erin Gardner scored SRU's opening run in the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Hurd.
 
However, Mercyhurst countered by scoring seven consecutive runs over the opening four innings while Lakers pitcher Morgan Hilty (11-5) claimed firm control in the circle by limiting SRU to just one hit over the next four innings as Mercyhurst took a 7-1 lead into the sixth frame.
 
SRU looked to start a late rally once again in the sixth as Julia Montie brought home what would be Slippery Rock's final run of the game when she plated Hurd on a single up the middle. The efforts were ended though with Hilty registering the final out of the inning with Montie on first.
 
The Rock was led on offense in game two by Hurd who went 1-for-2 with one RBI and one run scored as well as Montie who was 1-for-3 with one RBI. Fisk tallied SRU's remaining hit while Brown stole one base.
 
Hurd was also The Rock's starting pitcher in game two. She took the loss after giving up five runs on three hits in addition to striking out two batters and walking four in three innings of work before giving way to Chloe Sharman, who pitched the remainder of the game, allowing two runs on two hits while striking out two batters.
 
Hilty earned the win after allowing two runs, one being earned, on three hits in addition to striking out five batters and walking five in a complete-game effort.
 
Slippery Rock returns home for a PSAC West doubleheader against California University (Pa.) April 27. First pitch of game one is set for 2:30 p.m. at the SRU Softball Complex.



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