SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University softball team completed its second-straight sweep to start Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division play, 5-0 and 8-4, versus Edinboro Tuesday at Kasnevich Field.
After the doubleheader, Slippery Rock improved to 10-8 overall with a 4-0 mark in the PSAC West, while Edinboro dropped to 1-16 overall and 0-2 in the PSAC West.
With the pair of victories, Slippery Rock is 4-0 to start PSAC West play for the second year in a row and the second time in the last 15 seasons.
Slippery Rock was led by
Maddie Cavenaugh,
Alyssa Sheely,
Alyssa Massucci and
Jordyn Pelles, who all secured hits in both games. Cavenaugh finished 3-for-5 with two runs, two RBIs and one walk, while Sheely and Pelles both went 3-for-6 with two RBIs. Sheely had three runs and Pelles finished with two runs. Massucci concluded the day 2-for-6 with three RBIs and two runs.
GAME 1: Slippery Rock 5 – Edinboro 0
W:
Rachel Baker (6-2)
L: Gianna Ficcaglia (1-6)
Slippery Rock kicked off the scoring in the third inning. Pelles beat out a bunt attempt to advance
Grace Smith to third base after Smith reached on an error. Cavenaugh drove in Smith with a sac fly down the right field line. After a Pelles steal of second base,
Aubrey Mansfield walked. Sheely then drove in Pelles with an RBI-single. Mansfield also scored on the play after Sheely drew a throw towards second. Massucci capped off the four-run inning with an RBI-triple to right field, scoring Sheely.
The Rock added one more run in the fourth inning. Pelles reached on a single with two outs and then scored on a Cavenaugh RBI-single.
Offensively, Cavenaugh (2-for-2) and Pelles (2-for-3) had multiple hits in game one. Cavenaugh finished with two RBIs and Pelles ended with two runs.
Mansfield (1-for-2), Sheely (1-for-3) and Massucci (1-for-3) all had one hit for SRU. Mansfield and Sheely had one run each, while Sheely and Massucci earned one RBI.
In the circle,
Rachel Baker pitched her first complete-game shutout of her career. Baker surrendered just two hits and two walks, while striking out four batters in seven innings of work to earn the win.
Gianna Ficcaglia took the loss for Edinboro after giving up five runs (one earned) on six hits and one walk, while also striking out four batters in four innings.
GAME 2: Slippery Rock 8 – Edinboro 4
W: Paoge Gresgott (3-2)
L: Kelsey Warren (0-5)
S:
Kayla Williams (1)
Slippery Rock again started the scoring in game two, this time in the first inning. Cavenaugh singled to start off the game, followed by a double from
Addie Deal to put Cavenaugh on third. Sheely drove in the first SRU run of the game with an RBI-single to score Cavenaugh. Massucci followed that up with an RBI-groundout to score Deal, making it 2-0 Slippery Rock. After advancing to third in Massucci's groundout, Sheely scored on a wild pitch.
The Rock then added two more runs in the second inning as Deal hit a two-RBI double to score Cavenaugh and
Addie Warzala after they both reached on walks.
Edinboro struck next in the fifth inning with four runs to cut The Rock's lead to 5-4.
Kayla Williams came in to relieve
Paige Gresgott with one runner on in the fifth inning. Williams struck out a batter to end the frame.
SRU responded with three runs of its own in the bottom of the inning.
Sydney Lutz scored as she pinch-ran for Deal after the first baseman singled. Sheely and Massucci hit back-to-back singles to score Lutz, with Massucci picking up the RBI. Pelles then hit a two-RBI double to score both Sheely and Massucci, closing out an 8-4 Rock victory.
At the plate, Deal and Sheely had multiple hits for The Rock. Deal went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and one run, while Sheely finished the game 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI.
Cavenaugh (1-for-3), Massucci (1-for-3) and Warzala (1-for-2) all had one hit in game two.
In the circle, Gresgott started for Slippery Rock and earned the win after pitching 4.2 innings. Gresgott gave up four runs on five hits and two walks, while striking out four batters. Williams grabbed the save as the sophomore gave up no runs on no hits and no walks with three strikeouts in 2.1 innings.
Edinboro's Kelsey Warren took the loss for the Fighting Scots after giving up seven runs on seven hits and two walks with five strikeouts in 4.1 innings.
Slippery Rock finishes the week by hitting the road for doubleheaders against Seton Hill University 2 p.m. Friday at the SHU Softball Complex and against California (Pa.) 1 p.m. Saturday at Lilley Field.
To stay up to date with all that happens at The Rock, follow our official Athletic Communication accounts on 'X' (formerly Twitter, @Rock_Athletics), Facebook (RockAthletics) and Instagram (RockAthletics).
