SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University softball team secured its second longest winning streak in program history (10 wins) with a doubleheader sweep of Indiana University (Pa.) Tuesday at Kasnevich Field.
SRU's 10-game winning streak is second only to the 2011 team who went on a program-best 13 game victory streak.
The win improves The Rock's record to 22-14 overall and 13-5 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division to give it sole possession of first in the division. Following the loss, the Crimson Hawks move to 20-15 on the season and 11-7 in the league.
SRU was led over the doubleheader by
Julia Montie who was 2-for-6 with one run and two RBI as well as
Aubrey Mansfield who went 3-for-7 with two runs scored.
GAME ONE: SRU 2 – IUP 0
Kelsi Anderson (13-3) pitched a three-hit complete-game shutout to go along with The Rock offense scattering two runs over seven innings to earn a 2-0 game one win over the Crimson Hawks.
The complete-game shutout was the first of the season for Anderson who took the win after striking out six batters.
Mansfield, Montie and
Erin Gardner paced the SRU lineup all with one hit apiece while Montie and
Cami Fisk each had one RBI.
Jess Cekada, Lexi Dawson and Paige Truax led the IUP offense, accounting for the three hits allowed by Anderson. Bella Bucy (9-5) was the pitcher of record after giving up two runs, one being earned, on three hits over six innings of work.
The Rock opened their scoring in the second with Montie hitting an RBI-double to score Mansfield who reached base on a double of her own to right center to lead off the inning.
The one-run advantage proved enough for Anderson as she went on to strand four runners on base over the next four innings.
SRU tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth frame courtesy of a Fisk sacrifice flyout that brought home Gardner. A Crimson Hawks fielding error gifted Gardner two bases prior to her scoring, extending the Slippery Rock lead to 2-0.
IUP seemed poised to make a late-inning comeback in the bottom of the seventh when Madeline Miller drew a leadoff walk. However, Anderson worked around the early walk with three straight outs to finish off the shutout.
GAME TWO: SRU 8 – IUP 4
After leading by as many as five runs, Slippery Rock held off a late Crimson Hawks comeback bid to close out the doubleheader sweep with an 8-4 win in game two.
Slippery Rock scored runs in each of the opening three inning highlighted by a three-run third inning to take a 5-0 lead while
Alexsa Hurd (8-2) carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning before IUP broke up the shutout and no-hit bid with its first run of the contest.
The Rock went on to post three insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a Crimson Hawks fielding miscue to stretch its lead out to 8-1. IUP would score three runs over the final two innings, but never threatened SRU's lead on the way to a four-run Rock win.
Hurd took the win after allowing one run on one hit over 5.1 innings of work with three strikeouts. In a relief appearance for Hurd,
Chloe Sharman surrendered three runs on five hits with two strikeouts in 1.2 innings pitched.
The Slippery Rock offense was also led by Hurd who was 2-for-2 with one run and one RBI as well as
Arielle Brown and Montie who each tallied one hit, one run and one RBI each.
Amanda Fischer took the loss after allowing four runs on four hits with three strikeouts. Pikula paced the Crimson Hawks offense as she went 2-for-4 with two RBI.
Slippery Rock continues the back half of the regular season when it travels to Clarion for a PSAC West doubleheader Friday. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 2 p.m.
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