WINTER HAVEN, Fla. –  The Slippery Rock University softball team opened its 2026 season with a doubleheader sweep over Dominican University (N.Y.) at THE Spring Games in Winter Haven, Florida.

Slippery Rock is now 2-0 on the season after 14-8 and 9-1 wins, while the Chargers now sit at 0-2 after the pair of defeats.

Slippery Rock was led in the doubleheader by freshman centerfielder Maddie Cavenaugh who kicked off her collegiate career with seven hits in her eight at-bats. Four of Cavenaugh's seven hits went for extra bases with two doubles and two triples. Cavenaugh tallied six RBIs and six runs as well.

Shaylyn Shall and Aubrey Mansfield each had hits in both games with Shall finishing the day 2-for-7 from the plate with two runs and Mansfield ending the set 2-for-6 in the box with two RBI's three runs and one stolen base.

GAME 1: SRU 14 – DU 8
W: Kayla Williams (1-0)
L: Gianna Barbieri (0-1)

Slippery Rock opened the day with a 14-8 win over Dominican in an explosive offensive showing from Cavenaugh and Alyssa Sheely.

SRU scored the first eight runs of the contest before the Chargers halved its lead in the bottom of the second.  SRU and DU went on to trade runs until The Rock plated four runs in hte seventh to put the game out of reach.

Offensively, Cavenaugh went 5-for-5 with four RBIs and three runs, while Sheely finished the game going 3-of-4 with four RBIs, two runs and one walk.

Sydney Brown (3-for-5) and Kayla Williams (2-for-3) also had multiple hits in the game for The Rock.

In the circle, Paige Gresgott started for SRU and went two innings and surrendered four runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out one batter. Williams came out of the bullpen and pitched five innings to secure the win for SRU. Williams gave up four runs on six hits and three walks, while striking out six Chargers.

Gianna Barbieri picked up the loss for Dominican in game one. Barbieri pitched two innings and gave up two hits with one walk, giving up one earned run after coming on for starter Emily Baxter.

GAME 2: SRU 9 – DU 1 (5 innings)
W: Rachel Baker (1-0)
L: Victoria Iorio (0-1)

SRU completed the sweep over the Chargers with a 9-1 win in five innings.

Slippery Rock put the game out of reach early with a six-run second inning. Cavenaugh and Alyssa Massucci had two RBIs each in the frame.

Cavenaugh and Massucci each finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate. Cavenaugh tallied two RBIs and three runs while Massucci grabbed three RBIs and one run. Mansfield finished the game 1-for-2 with a two-RBI double. Addie Warzala picked up the final RBI for Slippery Rock in game two in a 1-for-3 showing in the box.

SRU's pitching was Rock solid behind Rachel Baker's five-inning complete game that included just one unearned run on two hits, five walks and seven strikeouts. Baker picked up the victory in her first collegiate start.

Victoria Iorio was handed the loss after pitching two innings and giving up eight runs (one earned), on seven hits and two walks, while striking out one batter.

Slippery Rock comes back for day two of THE Spring Games with a game 10 a.m. Sunday against Saint Anselm College followed by a matchup 12:15 p.m. against the University of Sioux Falls.



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