SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University softball team dropped two decisions to Lock Haven Wednesday afternoon at Kasnevich Field.

Slippery Rock lost the opener 5-4, before falling 8-3 in game two.

After the defeats, Slippery Rock is now 5-5 on the season, while Lock Haven improved to 7-5 on the campaign.

Slippery Rock was led by freshman centerfielder Maddie Cavenaugh who finished the day with a 3-for-7 performance with two RBIs, two runs and one walk. One of Cavenaugh's three hits went for extra bases as the rookie hit a triple in the third inning of game two. Alyssa Massucci also had hits in both games, finishing the day going 2-for-7 with a pair of singles.

GAME 1: Lock Haven 5 – Slippery Rock 4
W: Talia Ross (5-1)
L: Kayla Williams (1-3)
S: Marissa Horn (1)

Lock Haven opened the scoring after a walk and two consecutive doubles in the third inning. The Bald Eagles added three more runs in the fourth with a two-run triple after a double and a walk.

Slippery Rock cut Lock Haven's lead to one run with a four-run fifth inning. SRU began its rally when Grace Smith drew a leadoff walk. With two outs, Jessica Goldhardt doubled followed by a two-run single from Cavenaugh. Shaylyn Shall kept the rally going with an RBI-triple in the gap to score Cavenaugh. Shall then scored on a wild pitch.

That would be as close as The Rock would get as the Bald Eagles ended the comeback threat and closed out the 5-4 victory.

Offensively, Cavenaugh finished the game 1-for-3 with two RBIs, one run and one walk. Shall went 1-for-4 with one RBI.

Goldhardt and Massucci both finished the matchup 1-for-3, while Goldhardt also scored a run. Jordyn Pelles picked up Slippery Rock's final hit of game one while going 1-for-2 with a stolen base. Pelles also reached base on a hit by pitch.

In the circle, Kayla Williams started and was handed the loss in game one. Williams pitched five innings and gave up five runs on five hits and three walks, while striking out three batters. Paige Gresgott pitched in relief of Williams and threw two innings, giving up no hits and just one walk. Gresgott also struck out four batters.

Talia Ross earned the win for Lock Haven, pitching 4.2 innings, giving up four runs on four hits and four walks, while striking out seven batters. Marissa Horn collected the save after 2.1 innings with just one hit allowed and one strikeout.  

GAME 2: Lock Haven 8 – Slippery Rock 3
W: Faith Persing (2-2)
L: Paige Gresgott (0-2)

Lock Haven again opened the scoring in game two in the second inning with one run.

Slippery Rock responded in the third with an RBI-single from Aubrey Mansfield to score Cavenaugh after the freshman tripled. The Rock took their first lead after Sydney Brown was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score Mansfield.

SRU added to its lead with one run in the fourth inning after Shall grounded into a fielder's choice to score Gabby Perod, who reached base with a one-out single.

However, the Bald Eagles scored seven runs over the last two innings to complete the comeback victory.

Cavenaugh ended game two going 2-for-4 with one run scored. Mansfield and Massucci completed the game with matching 1-for-4 performances. Mansfield also scored one run. Perod (1-for-1) and Addie Warzala (1-for-2) also picked up one hit each for The Rock.

Rachel Baker started in the circle for SRU going five innings and surrendering three runs (one earned) on eight hits and two walks. Baker punched out five Bald Eagles as well.

Gresgott took the loss for SRU after throwing two innings and giving up five runs (two earned) on three hits and one walk.

Faith Persing earned the win in relief for Lock Haven. Persing threw 4.1 innings, giving up just one run on three hits and no walks, also striking out one batter.

Slippery Rock hits the road to Salem, Virginia for the MEC/PSAC Crossover where it will play four games against West Liberty University, the University of Concord, Shippensburg University and Bowie State University. First pitch Saturday will be 11 a.m. against West Liberty.




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