GLENVILLE, W. Va. – The Slippery Rock University softball team was swept in a pair of games Saturday against Fairmont State University and West Virginia State University on day one of the Mountain East Conference / Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Crossover.
 
The Rock (0-2) fell 5-4 to the Falcons (4-6) in game one and suffered a 12-11 defeat by the Yellow Jackets (1-4) in game two.
 
Leading the offense through two games was Alexsa Hurd (3-for-7, 2 runs, 1 RBI), Cami Fisk (3-for-7, 2 runs 2 RBI), Aubrey Mansfield (2-for-5, 3 runs, 2 RBI) and Julia Montie (3-for-6, 1 run 1 RBI).
 
GAME ONE: FSU 5 – SRU 4
Slippery Rock began its season opener by holding a two-run lead through three innings before Fairmont State tacked on five additional runs over the final four innings to secure a 5-4 win.
 
Arielle Brown led the SRU attack in game one with two hits, one run scored, one RBI and one walk. Fisk and Hurd each tallied one hit with Hurd tacking on one run scored and one RBI. Erin Gardner rounded out The Rock's leaders with their last RBI.
 
Game one starter, Kelsi Anderson allowed three runs on six hits while striking out seven batters and walking three over six innings before giving way to Chloe Sharman.
 
Sharman (0-1) was the pitcher of record for The Rock, allowing two runs on two hits in addition to striking out two batters in one inning pitched.
 
Slippery Rock's scoring efforts began in the first inning with Hurd hitting a one-run double to score Brown. Fisk then brought Hurd home from second with a single to give The Rock a 2-0 edge.
 
FSU answered with a solo home run in the top of the second to cut the SRU lead to 2-1 before The Rock extended their lead to 3-1 courtesy of a run-scoring fly out by Garner to plate Montie.
 
However, Fairmont State went on to outscore Slippery Rock 4-1 through the remainder of the game with one in the fourth and sixth and two in the seventh to take a 5-4 win.
 
Caitlyn Kass (1-0) took the win for the Falcons after allowing four runs, three of which were earned, on five runs in addition to striking out five batters and walking two in a complete-game effort.
 
GAME TWO: WVSU 12 – SRU 11
Slippery Rock held a four-run advantage over West Virginia State at the end of the fifth inning before WVSU rallied by plating nine runners over the final two innings on the way to a 12-11 win.
 
Trailing by seven runs after The Rock's hot start heading into the bottom of the fifth, the Yellow Jackets rallied with nine runs of their own to enter the final frame trailing SRU 11-10.
 
Kasey Murphy opened the seventh inning by retiring the side before the West Virginia State attack tied the score courtesy of a run-scoring groundout. Murphy then entered the batter's box to send home two runners on a double and seal a 12-11 victory.
 
Fisk led The Rock's offense in game two with two hits, two runs scored, two RBI and one walk. In her first career start, Aubrey Mansfield went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI. Hurd and Montie rounded out SRU's multi-hit players with two each while Montie tacked on one RBI and Hurd one run.
 
Julia Nutter ended the game with one hit and two RBI while Emma Kennedy and Julianna Hutchinson each tallied one RBI.
 
Claire Zimmerman (0-1) was the pitcher of record, allowing two runs on five hits before giving way to Mackenzie Borkovich who in a relief appearance allowed seven runs on seven hits over one inning. Hurd also made a brief appearance in the circle as she allowed three runs on two hits in addition to striking out one batter.
 
Murphy (1-0) earned the win after allowing 11 runs, six of which were earned, on 11 hits while striking out eight batters and walking six. Murphy also led WVSU on offense as she went 2-for-4 with five RBI and two runs.
 
Slippery Rock finishes its time at the MEC/PSAC Crossover with two games Sunday against West Virginia Wesleyan College at 10 a.m. and Glenville State University 12:30 p.m.





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