SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Julia Montie knocked a walk-off RBI-single into centerfield to cap off a three-run comeback and give the Slippery Rock University softball team an 8-7 game-two win over Edinboro following a 6-4 game-one victory Monday at Kasnevich Field.
 
The SRU sweep paired with Indiana University (Pa.)'s split versus California (Pa.) Monday lifts The Rock into sole position of first place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division Standings.
 
The Rock improve to 16-14 overall and 10-2 in PSAC West competition, now winners in 12 of their last 14 games. The Fighting Scots fall to 4-20 on the season and 3-9 in league play.
 
Alexsa Hurd (10-4) posted another incredible day, going 3-for-7 with two home runs and five RBI while tossing 13 strikeouts in a 7.0-inning win. Montie hit 4-for-7 with a home run and four RBI, joining Aubrey Mansfield in producing a 4-for-7 day. Mansfield's combined efforts included two doubles and one RBI.
 
Naomi Childs went 2-for-4, while Jessica Goldhardt (1-for-3, 1 RBI), Sydney Brown (1-for-4), Shaylyn Shall (1-for-4), Julia Nutter (1-for-6, 1 2B) and Arielle Brown (1-for-7, 1 RBI) each added to SRU's offense.
 
Kayla Williams (2-2) earned her second career win by tossing one strikeout and allowing just one hit and no runs in 3.0 innings of relief for Paige Gresgott, who registered three strikeouts in the opening 4.0 innings of game two.
 
GAME ONE – Slippery Rock 6, Edinboro 4
Strong first and fifth-inning performances on top of 13 strikeouts from Hurd granted The Rock a 6-4 win over Edinboro in game one Monday.
 
Edinboro showed fight early on, taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on two hits while leaving bases loaded. The Rock responded, however, with three runs of their own on two hits – a two-RBI-single from Montie and an RBI-double by Mansfield.
 
Hurd struck six Edinboro batters out between the second and third innings to maintain Slippery Rock's one-run lead. The Fighting Scots found their equalizing run to make it 3-3 in the top of the fourth thanks to a double into right-center and a wild pitch.
 
The Rock used another three-run inning in the fifth to go ahead 6-3, a frame that saw home runs from Hurd and Montie on back-to-back pitches. Boro scraped one run back in the top of the seventh with a walk and an RBI-double, but Hurd's 13^th strikeout finalized Slippery Rock's two-run win.
 
Hurd (10-4) picked up her ninth consecutive complete game that came with at least 10 strikeouts in the victory, allowing six hits, four runs and eight walks. She went 1-for-3 offensively with a two-RBI home run.
 
Montie's home run and three RBI highlighted a 2-for-3 game, while Mansfield also went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Sydney Brown had the team's only other hit in the contest to log a 1-for-3 game. Goldhardt, Hurd, Kennedy and Arielle Brown each stole one base.
 
Giana Ficcaglia (1-10) suffered the loss with five strikeouts in 5.0 innings before Annalise Smith closed out the game for Boro with one K in the final 1.0 inning. Addy Maguire (2-for-3) and Hilary Sissem (2-for-4) both led the Fighting Scots at the plate with one double apiece.
 
Both teams finished the game with six hits, while Edinboro contributed the contest's two errors. SRU left just four runners on base as opposed to Edinboro's 10.
 
GAME TWO – Slippery Rock 8, Edinboro 7
Slippery Rock overcame two separate two-run deficits and won in walk-off fashion for the third time this season in an 8-7 game-two decision.
 
Edinboro again went up early with a 2-0 advantage after three hits and an error in the top half of the first inning. Just as in game one, The Rock answered in the home half of the opening frame, this time tying things up 2-2 with a two-run homer from Hurd.
 
After Slippery Rock left bases loaded in the second, Boro leapt in front 4-2 in the top of the third with two extra-base hits. SRU pulled ahead with a three-run bottom portion of the third, taking a 5-4 edge thanks to two hits and two errors.
 
The lead swapped hands once again in the top of the fourth as Edinboro paired three hits and an error to go ahead 7-5. That score remained on the board until SRU piled up three runs on five hits in the bottom of the seventh. Following RBI-singles from Arielle Brown and Hurd, Montie's single into centerfield walked Edinboro off for an 8-7 win.
 
Hurd hit another home run in a 2-for-4 game two, tallying three RBI to tie head coach Stacey Rice for second all-time with 30 career home runs. Mansfield (2-for-4) and Nutter (1-for-3) each added a double, while Montie went 2-for-4 with the game-winning RBI. Additionally, Childs hit 2-for-4 for The Rock while scoring a run.
 
Arielle Brown (1-for-4, 1 RBI), Shall (1-for-3) and Goldhardt (1-for-3, 1 RBI) each added one hit for The Rock, as SRU outhit Edinboro 12-9. Williams (2-2) picked up the pitching decision with one strikeout in the final 3.0 innings, relieving Gresgott, who started the game and tossed three Ks in 4.0 innings.
 
Smith (1-3) came back in after closing out game one for Edinboro, delivering four strikeouts in 4.2 innings of action. She replaced starter Grace Kessel, who dealt two strikeouts in 1.2 innings, and was relieved by Ficcaglia – Boro's game-one starter – who did not record an out in the game's 10 final pitches.
 
Maguire was a homer away from the cycle, going 3-for-4 with a double, a triple and three RBI. Sissem also went 3-for-4 for Edinboro with two doubles and an RBI.
 
In addition to being outhit 12-9, Edinboro accounted for three of the game's five errors. Boro concluded game two with four runners left on base, while Slippery Rock stranded a total of 11.
 
UP NEXT
With Thursday's doubleheader at California (Pa.) being postponed to 1 p.m. Sunday, Slippery Rock's next action will come at home 2 p.m. Friday in a twin bill versus Pitt-Johnstown. The Rock swept UPJ on the road March 21, taking 5-1 and 18-14 wins home with them.





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