SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University softball team picked up its third win of the season against Gannon University in a 4-1 game-one decision before game two was suspended in the bottom of the second due to inclement weather Tuesday at Kasnevich Field. That remainder of that game will be played out at a later date yet to be determined.
 
The game-one win improves The Rock to 18-15 overall and 12-3 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division. The Golden Knights fall to 21-14 on the season and 12-7 in league play. SRU's win also marked the 200th career victory of head coach Stacey Rice's career.
 
Alexsa Hurd (11-4) threw 13 strikeouts in 7.0 innings, allowing just three walks and Gannon's one run. Emma Kennedy led The Rock in a 2-for-3 effort with Arielle Brown (1-for-2) and Shaylyn Shall (1-for-2) both adding a double while combining for three RBI. Jessica Goldhardt also went 1-for-2 in game one, stealing two bases.
 
GAME ONE – Slippery Rock 4, Gannon 1
A bunt-single by Goldhardt in the bottom of the third served as the game's first hit. She later scored after stealing second base and coming around to home on an RBI-double by Shall that gave The Rock a 1-0 lead.
 
Gannon answered in the top of the fourth by loading the bases but could not get a run across. The Golden Knights did find the tying run to make it 1-1 in the top of the fifth with a lead-off single followed up by an RBI-double.
 
The Rock regained the lead in the home half of the fifth by tacking on two runs on two hits and an error. Brown doubled down the left line to score Kennedy one at-bat before Shall logged a sacrifice fly to bring Goldhardt home for a 3-1 edge. Montie gave The Rock an insurance run in the sixth on a throwing error from GU to put SRU ahead 4-1.
 
Gannon again loaded the bases in response but was unable to score any runs in the top of the seventh.
 
Both teams finished the game with five hits and two errors. The Golden Knights left 11 runners on base compared to Slippery Rock's four.
 
Katie Armstrong (13-4) suffered the loss in the circle for Gannon despite 10 strikeouts and one walk in 6.0 innings. A double and an RBI highlighted Emma Smerick's 1-for-4 day, while Destiny Garcia led the team batting 2-for-3.
 
GAME TWO – Suspended to TBA
Gannon took a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the second inning, where the game was suspended to cap off a frustrating day of numerous delays due to inclement weather. The remainder of the game will be made up at a date yet to be determined.
 
Any further schedule changes will be announced on RockAthletics.com and all other Slippery Rock official social media sites as information becomes available.
 
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock will head to Seton Hill University for a PSAC West doubleheader 2 p.m. Thursday. The Rock swept the Griffins at home March 29 in 3-2 and 8-3 victories.





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