JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University softball team improved its win streak to 12 games with victories, 3-2 in eight innings and 9-3, completing the season sweep of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division foe Pitt-Johnstown Friday at the Pitt-Johnstown Softball Field.
With the sweep, Slippery Rock improved to 22-10 overall and 16-2 inside the PSAC West, keeping sole possession of first place in the divisional standings. The Rock have now achieved their best 32-game start to a season in program history, passing the 2005 squad, who started 21-11.
SRU can now clinch a spot in the PSAC Tournament with at least one victory Saturday at Indiana University (Pa.)
Pitt-Johnstown's record dropped to 12-19 overall and 6-12 in the PSAC West.
Slippery Rock was led by four players with hits in both games as well as excellent pitching from both starters.
Maddie Cavenaugh and Alyssa Sheely paced SRU with four hits apiece. Cavenaugh had a 4-for-7 performance with four runs, one home run, four RBIs, and two stolen bases, while Sheely went 4-for-8 with one run and three RBIs. Cavenaugh's home run was her 12th of the season, which places her second in the PSAC. The freshman also extended her on-base streak to 11 games.
With her performance, Cavenaugh kept her fantastic freshman campaign going as she is now among the top five in multiple SRU single-season records. The freshman is now tied for fourth in RBIs (44), fourth in total bases (106), and tied for fifth in hits (55).
Grace Smith ended the day going 3-for-7 with two runs, one home run and two RBIs. Smith's home run was her first of the season. Jordyn Pelles rounded out Rock batters with hits in both games, going 2-for-7 with one run and one RBI.
In the circle, Rachel Baker and Paige Gresgott each picked up a win and combined to throw 15 innings, giving up just five runs (four earned) on 12 hits and three walks with 13 strikeouts.
GAME 1: Slippery Rock 3 – Pitt-Johnstown 2 – 8 innings
W: Rachel Baker (12-3)
L: Mia Smith (6-8)
Slippery Rock kicked off the scoring in game one. Cavenaugh was hit by a pitch and then stole second. After two outs, Sheely drove in Cavenaugh with an RBI-single.
Pitt-Johnstown responded with one run in the third inning, tying the game 1-1.
SRU inched back out in front during the sixth inning. Cavenaugh started the inning with a single, followed by Pelles reaching base after she was hit by a pitch. With one out, Sheely loaded the bases with a single, before Alyssa Massucci drove in Cavenaugh with a fielder's choice.
The Mountain Cats tied the game in the bottom of the sixth, 2-2, sending the game to extra innings after both teams went scoreless in the seventh.
In the eighth inning, Pelles started things for The Rock with a double. Two batters later, Sheely knocked in Pelles to give Slippery Rock a 3-2 advantage.
With the one run lead in the eighth, Baker shut down UPJ with a one-two-three inning that included two strikeouts, giving SRU a 3-2 victory.
Offensively, Sheely led The Rock in game one with a 3-for-4 performance that included two RBIs. Cavenaugh, Pelles and Smith all went 1-for-3, with Cavenaugh (2) and Pelles (1) scoring runs. Addie Deal rounded out Rock batters with hits in game one after going 1-for-4.
In the circle, Baker earned the win after throwing her 12th complete game of the season and ninth straight after allowing just two runs (one earned) on five hits and one walk with nine strikeouts.
Mia Smith took the loss of Pitt-Johnstown after pitching eight innings, giving up three runs on seven hits with three strikeouts.
GAME 2: Slippery Rock 9 – Pitt-Johnstown 3
W: Paige Gresgott (7-2)
L: Mahlon Yonkin (6-7)
Slippery Rock opened the scoring with one run in the second inning on Paige Parker's RBI single, driving in Smith.
SRU added three runs in the fourth inning after Cavenaugh emptied the bases with a three-RBI double. The Rock extended their lead in the fifth inning when Cavenaugh hit a solo home run, her 12th long ball of the season, giving Slippery Rock a 5-0 advantage.
Pitt-Johnstown cut SRU's edge to two with a three-run fifth inning.
SRU put the game out of reach after a four-run seventh inning, highlighted by a two-run home run from Smith, her first home run of the season.
In the circle, Gresgott earned her seventh win of the season after pitching all seven innings, surrendering three runs on seven hits and two walks with four strikeouts.
At the plate, Cavenaugh paced Slippery Rock batters in game two with a 3-for-3 showing with two runs, one home run and four RBIs. Smith and Massucci joined Cavenaugh with multiple hits after each player went 2-for-4, while Smith added two runs and two RBIs.
Pelles, Sheely, Parker and Addie Warzala all added one hit in game two. Warzala and Parker earned one run each, while Parker and Pelles notched one RBI apiece.
Mahlon Yonkin was handed the loss in game two for UPJ after pitching seven innings, giving up nine runs (five earned) on 11 hits and one walk with one strikeout.
SRU stays on the road in PSAC West competition with a doubleheader noon Saturday at IUP. Saturday's doubleheader will be crucial for both sides as Slippery Rock holds a two-game lead of IUP for first place in the PSAC West.
Earlier in the season, The Rock picked up two extra inning victories against the Crimson Hawks April 4 at Kasnevich Field. Slippery Rock took game one 5-3 in eight innings and game two 4-3 in 11 innings.
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