CLARION, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University softball team played Clarion to a doubleheader split on the road Friday with a 3-0 loss in game one before battling to a 6-5, 11-inning win in game two.
 
The split moves SRU's record to 23-15 overall and 14-6 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division. Clarion moves to 15-17 overall and 6-12 in league play.
 
The trio of Aubrey Mansfield, Alexsa Hurd and Julia Montie each collected hits in both ends of Friday's doubleheader with Mansfield scoring two runs and driving in another while Hurd had three hits, one RBI and a walk. 
 
In a game-two relief appearance, Chloe Sharman (1-3) picked up her first win of the season after entering the game to allow only one run through six innings.
 
GAME ONE: CLARION 3 – SRU 0
The Golden Eagles scored two runs in the third before tacking on an insurance run in the sixth to put The Rock in a deficit they could not recover from on the way to a 3-0 Golden Eagle win.
 
Slippery Rock's best look at a run in the opener came in the top of the third when Julianna Hutchinson led off the frame with a walk before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Regan Hozak to give SRU a runner in scoring position with only one out.
 
However, Clarion pitcher Emma Hipps (9-4) went on to force consecutive outs to get out of the inning unscathed. The Golden Eagles plated two runners in the home half of the third inning by scoring from an RBI-single and a passed ball.
 
The two-run advantage proved all Hipps would need as she shut The Rock out over the remaining four frames on the way to a 3-0 Clarion win.

Kelsi Anderson (13-4) was the pitcher of record for SRU after surrendering three runs, two being earned, on six hits with eight strikeouts over six innings pitched.
 
Hurd, Mansfield and Montie each tallied one hit for The Rock on offense.
 
Hipps took the win after allowing three hits and striking out three in a complete-game effort. Kathryn O'Horo led the Golden Eagle offense as she went 2-for-2 with one run and one RBI. 
 
GAME TWO: SRU 6 – CLARION 5 (11 Innings)
A back-and-forth six-inning battle by both teams resulted in a tie at the end of regulation to prompt extra innings on the way to an eventual 6-5 Slippery Rock victory.
SRU scattered four runs through the third to sixth innings while Clarion plated two runners in both the fourth and sixth frames to knot the score 4-4 heading into the seventh inning.
 
A pitcher's battle ensued in the seventh inning as Sharman and her counterpart Angelina Pepe (0-5) registered shutout frames to send the game into extra innings.
 
The duel continued into the eighth and ninth innings as Sharman stranded four Clarion players and Pepe left three Rock runners on base to preserve the tie.
 
With Jeanna Sukey placed on second at the top of the 10th inning, Naomi Childs advanced her to third on a sacrifice bunt. Villies then hit a sacrifice flyout to score Sukey and give SRU a 5-4 lead entering the bottom of the 10th only for. Clarion to answer with a run of its own on an RBI-single to knot the score once more at 5-5 heading into an 11th frame.
 
SRU mimicked its 10th-inning run in the 11th as Mansfield was brought home from second on a sacrifice bunt and sacrifice flyout to once again put The Rock back up by one run.
 
The home portion of the 11th inning saw Clarion put runners on first and second with no outs following a leadoff single. However, Sharman was able to work her way out of the jam by recording three straight outs to secure a 6-5 Rock victory. 
 
Sharman took the win after allowing one unearned run on six hits while striking out four over six innings of work.
 
Villies paced the game two offense as she went 4-for-4 with one run scored and two RBI in addition to Cami Fisk who was 3-for-4 with one run and two RBI.
 
Pepe was credited with the loss after allowing two runs on six hits over six innings. Carissa Giordano led the Golden Eagle's attack as she was 2-for-4 with two RBI.
 
Slippery Rock returns home to host California (Pa.) for a conference doubleheader Saturday. First pitch of game one is set for 1 p.m. at Kasnevich Field.






To stay up to date with all that happens at The Rock, follow our official athletic communication accounts on Twitter (@Rock_Athletics), Facebook (RockAthletics) and Instagram (RockAthletics).