Slippery Rock, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University softball team extended its win streak to a season-high eight games with 7-2 and 4-1 victories against Gannon University Saturday at Kasnevich Field.

With the sweep, Slippery Rock improved to 18-10 overall with a 12-2 record in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division, while Gannon's record dropped to 14-15 overall and 7-8 in the PSAC West. The Rock still hold a one game advantage over Indiana University (Pa.) for first place in the PSAC West.

Slippery Rock was led by Maddie Cavenaugh as the only Rock batter with hits in both games of the doubleheader. Cavenaugh ended the day 3-for-5 with two runs, one home run, four RBIs, two walks and one stolen base.

The Rock were also propelled by excellent pitching as Rachel Baker and Paige Gresgott each picked up wins and combined to give up just three runs (two earned) on seven hits and eight walks with 12 strikeouts.

GAME 1: Slippery Rock 7 – Gannon 2
W: Rachel Baker (10-3)
L: Jessica Westmiller (4-2)
 
Gannon opened the scoring in game one with one run in the second and third innings.

Slippery Rock started the claw back in the fifth inning after a single by Sydney Brown and a walk from Cavenaugh brought up Jordyn Pelles. The Rock shortstop laid down a bunt and forced a throwing error that brought Brown in to score.

SRU then broke through for six runs in the sixth inning. Addie Deal clobbered a home run to right centerfield, tying the game 2-2. After a pitching change, Shaylyn Shall and Grace Smith both drew walks before Sarah Brown laced a single to left field, loading the bases in the process.

With nowhere to put one of the best hitters in the PSAC, Cavenaugh cleared the bases with a three-run double. Following Cavenaugh, The Rock drove in two more runs with Aubrey Mansfield and Alyssa Sheely grabbing the RBIs.

The Golden Knights attempted a rally in the seventh inning, loading the bases, but Baker shut Gannon down to help SRU earn the 7-2 win.

Offensively, Deal, Cavenaugh and Pelles all had multiple hits for SRU in game one. Deal went 3-for-3 with one run and one RBI off her second home run of the season. Cavenaugh and Deal both picked up two hits and scored one run. Cavenaugh added three RBIs.

The Brown sisters each recorded one hit and one run, while Sheely rounded out Slippery Rock batters with hits in game one with a 1-for-4 showing that included one RBI.

In the circle, Baker picked up her 10^th win of the season after her sixth straight complete game. Baker surrendered just two runs (one earned) on four hits and six walks with seven strikeouts.  

Jessica Westmiller took the loss for Gannon after facing one batter and issuing a walk with the runner coming into score. Miranda Biles started for Gannon and pitched 5.1 innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on six hits and one walk with six strikeouts.

GAME 2: Slippery Rock 4 – Gannon 1
W: Paige Gresgott (6-2)
L: Josie Spano (1-5)

Slippery Rock started fast in game two as Cavenaugh lifted a 3-1 pitch over the fence for her eighth home run of the season in the first at-bat in the game. Addie Warzala extended SRU's lead to 2-0 in the second inning with an RBI-single after a leadoff base hit from Alyssa Massucci and a walk from Smith.

Gannon responded in the third with one run, cutting Slippery Rock's lead to 2-1.

The Rock added two insurance runs in the fifth inning. Warzala led off the inning with a walk, then was pinch ran for by Jessica Goldhardt. Paige Parker drove in Goldhardt in the next at-bat with an RBI-single. Following Parker, Cavenaugh and Deal walked, leading to a sacrifice fly from Mansfield.

Gresgott proceeded to shut the game down and only allowed one baserunner in the final four innings. The Rock starter picked up her sixth win of the season after pitching a complete game, surrendering just one run on three hits and two walks with five strikeouts.

At the plate, Cavenaugh, Mansfield, Smith, Warzala and Parker all notched one hit for Slippery Rock in game two.

Cavenaugh went 1-for-2 with one run, one RBI and one walk. Smith, Warzala and Parker also all went 1-for-2 with Warzala and Parker each earning one RBI as well as Warzala scoring one run. Massucci rounded out SRU players with hits in game two after a 1-for-3 performance with one run.

Josie Spano was handed the loss in game two after pitching six innings and giving up four runs on five hits and five walks with two strikeouts.

Slippery Rock ends the week with a doubleheader 1 p.m. Sunday at Edinboro. Earlier in the season, The Rock swept the Fighting Scots, 5-0 and 8-4, March 24 at Kasnevich Field. If SRU completes the season-swep of Edinboro, it will match its second longest winning streak in program history with 10 wins in a row. 




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