INDIANA, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University softball team was swept in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division action Saturday at Indiana University (Pa.). The Rock fell 9-5 in game one and 9-0 in game two.

With the losses, Slippery Rock dropped to 22-12 overall with a 16-4 mark inside the PSAC West, while IUP's record improved to 27-17 overall and 16-4 in the PSAC West.

Slippery Rock exits the weekend with a PSAC Tournament spot after Clarion dropped two games to Gannon University Friday. This is the fourth straight season that SRU has made the conference tournament.

The Rock was led by Jordyn Pelles and Alyssa Massucci as each had hits in both games of the doubleheader. Pelles ended the day 2-for-5 with one run and Massucci went 2-for-5. Maddie Cavenaugh was intentionally walked in all seven of her plate appearances during the games.

GAME 1: IUP 9 – Slippery Rock 5
W: Kendall Young (10-7)
L: Rachel Baker (12-4)

IUP opened the scoring with one run in the second inning.

Slippery Rock responded with one run in the third. Sarah Brown led off the inning with a double, followed by an intentional walk to Cavenaugh and a sacrifice bunt by Pelles, moving the runners to second and third. Aubrey Mansfield drove in Brown with a sacrifice fly.

The Crimson Hawks added four runs in the third and fourth innings, giving them a 4-1 advantage.

The Rock cut into their four-run deficit in the fifth inning after Mansfield launched a three-run home run with Cavenaugh and Pelles on base. Mansfield's home run 

IUP extended its lead back to three runs with a pair in the bottom of the fifth.

Continuing the back-and-forth affair, Grace Smith hit a solo home run in the sixth inning, cutting Indiana's lead to 7-5.

The Crimson Hawks added two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth before closing out a 9-5 win in game one.

Offensively, Mansfield paced SRU with a 1-for-3 performance with one run, one home run and four RBIs. Smith also added a home run in a 1-for-2 showing with one run and one RBI. This was Smith second consecutive game with a home run.

Pelles, Massucci, and Brown all added one hit to the ledger. Pelles went 1-for-2, while Massucci and Brown each finished 1-for-3. Brown and Pelles each scored one run.  

In the circle, Rachel Baker (12-4) was handed the loss after pitching 3.1 innings, surrendering five runs (four earned) on five hits. Brooke Tatar came into the game for Baker and pitched 2.2 innings, giving up four runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks.

Kendall Young earned the win for IUP after pitching five innings, giving up five runs on five hits and three walks with six strikeouts.

GAME 2: IUP 9 – Slippery Rock 0
W: Taylor Bumgardner (12-9)
L: Paige Gresgott (7-3)

IUP took control of game two with a three-run first inning and held the lead for the rest of the game, winning 9-0 in five innings.

At the plate, Pelles, Massucci and Addie Deal had one hit for SRU in game two.

In the circle, Paige Gresgott (7-3) took the loss after pitching 2.2 innings, giving up six runs (five earned) on four hits and two walks with one strikeout. Kayla Williams finished the game, surrendering three runs on six hits and one walk with one strikeout.

Taylor Bumgardner earned the win for IUP after pitching a five inning shutout on three hits and three strikeouts.

Slippery Rock looks to reset with two PSAC West doubleheaders next week at Kasnevich Field. The Rock hosts California (Pa.) 2 p.m. April 24 and Seton Hill University 1 p.m. April 25. The doubleheaders versus the Griffins will be Senior Day for SRU

Earlier this season, Slippery Rock swept California 3-2 and 11-1 March 28 on the road. Against Seton Hill, The Rock dropped two games, 4-3 and 5-4, in Greensburg, Pennsylvania.



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