SALEM, Va. – The Slippery Rock University softball team dropped a pair of one-run games, 9-8 to No. 23 Shippensburg University and 3-2 in eight innings to Bowie State University, to close out the Mountain East Conference/Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Crossover at the Botetourt Sports Complex.

After the two matchups, Slippery Rock is now 6-8, while Shippensburg improved to 9-4 and Bowie State moved to 4-12.

Slippery Rock was led by Alyssa Sheely, Alyssa Massucci and Maddie Cavenaugh, who all had hits in both contests.

Sheely finished the day 3-for-7 with two runs and five RBIs that included a grand slam against Shippensburg. It was the fourth Rock grand slam since 2018.

Massucci went 4-for-8 with three RBIs and one run across the two games, while Cavenaugh had two hits in seven at-bats with two runs and one RBI from a solo home run.

Against the Raiders, SRU kicked off the scoring with Sheely's grand slam in the bottom of the first inning to score Cavenaugh, Shaylyn Shall and Aubrey Mansfield.

Shippensburg answered back with a four-run inning of its own in the third.

Slippery Rock re-took the lead in the fourth inning when Addie Deal hit her first collegiate home run, giving SRU a 5-4 advantage.

The Raiders then took their first lead of the game with a five-run fifth inning.

Down 9-5, Massucci pulled SRU to within two runs with a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth, scoring Sheely.

The Rock's rally continued in the sixth inning when Jordyn Pelles hit an RBI-double to score Jessica Goldhardt, who pinch-ran for Grace Smith after a walk. Slippery Rock ultimately fall short of the comeback victory, with Shippensburg claiming a 9-8 win.

At the plate, Sheely and Massucci each went 2-for-4, with Sheely collecting four RBIs and two runs, while Massucci had two RBIs and one run. Pelles also had multiple hits for SRU with a 2-for-3 performance and one RBI.

Cavenaugh (1-for-4), Deal (1-for-4) and Smith (1-for-2) all had one hit for SRU. Cavenaugh and Deal also added one run. Goldhardt scored a run along with a stolen base.

In the circle, Rachel Baker (4-2) took the loss for Slippery Rock, after pitching four innings, giving up seven runs on eight hits and three walks, while striking out two batters. Kayla Williams pitched the final three innings in relief, giving up two runs on three hits and two walks, striking out two batters as well.

Mikayla Fontana (2-1) earned the win for Shippensburg after pitching five innings, giving up three runs on five hits and no walks, while striking out two batters. Dani Hayward picked up her first save of the season in relief, giving up one run in two innings pitched.

In the second game of the day, The Rock would strike first again after Massucci drove in Sheely with an RBI-single after Sheely reached with a walk in the top of the first inning. Bowie State responded with one run of its own in the bottom of the inning 

Slippery Rock edged back in front after Cavenaugh hit her third home run of the year, giving SRU a 2-1 lead in the third inning. In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Bulldogs again tied the game, this time with a solo home run.

The game would go to extra innings. After Slippery Rock was unable to convert in the top half of the eighth inning, Bowie State played small ball with sacrifice bunt to move the runner to third before driving the winning run in during the next at-bat.

Offensively, Massucci was the only Rock batter to have multiple hits against the Bulldogs with a 2-for-4 showing with one RBI.

Cavenaugh, Sheely and Mansfield all went 1-for-3. Cavenaugh and Sheely each scored a run and earned a walk. Cavenaugh also added one RBI and one stolen base.

In the circle, Williams started for The Rock and threw 4.2 innings. Williams gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks, while striking out one batter. In her first collegiate appearance, Brooke Tatar (0-1) suffered the loss for Slippery Rock after coming in to relieve Williams. Tatar pitched 2.2 innings and gave up one unearned run on two hits and one walk. Tatar struck out two batters as well.

Sydney Seals (3-3) pitched all eight innings in the win for Bowie State. Seals gave up two runs on five hits and three walks, while striking out 11 batters.

Slippery Rock is scheduled to return home to host Shepherd University for a non-conference doubleheader 2 p.m. Tuesday at Kasnevich Field.



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