SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University softball team came away with two one-run victories, 1-0 and 4-3, against Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division foe California (Pa.) Friday at Kasnevich Field.

With the sweep, Slippery Rock improved to 24-14 on the season and 18-4 in the PSAC West, keeping pace with Indiana University (Pa.) for first place in the division standings. California dropped to 15-25 overall and 10-12 in the PSAC West.

Slippery Rock was led by three batters with hits in both games of the doubleheader and lockdown pitching. Aubrey Mansfield and Alyssa Massucci paced The Rock with three hits apiece. Mansfield ended the day 3-for-5 with one run and one RBI, while Massucci finished 3-for-6 with one RBI.

Grace Smith was the final Rock batter with hits in both games with a 2-for-5 performance that included one RBI.

With one walk in each game, Maddie Cavenaugh extended her on-base streak to 15 games.

Rachel Baker (13-4) and Paige Gresgott (8-3) each grabbed a win and combined to give up just four runs. Kayla Williams earned her second save of the season in game two.

GAME 1: Slippery Rock 1 – California 0
W: Rachel Baker (13-4)
L: Indyana Bolyea (2-7)

The first game of the doubleheader was a pitching duel between Baker and Indyana Bolyea.

Slippery Rock scored the lone run in the fourth inning. Mansfield launched a one-out double before Massucci drove her in with a two-out single.

Baker was able to strand all eight Cal batters that reached base. The freshman pitched her 13^th complete game of the season, surrendering no runs on seven hits and one walk with nine strikeouts as part of her second career shutout.

Offensively, Massucci led SRU with a 2-for-3 performance that included one RBI. Mansfield and Smith had the other two hits for SRU, with Mansfield scoring the game's only run.

Bolyea took the loss for Cal in game one after pitching six innings and giving up only one run on four hits and three walks with three strikeouts.

GAME 2: Slippery Rock 4 – California 3
W: Paige Gresgott (8-3)
L: Autumn Bielecki (7-7)
S: Kayla Williams (2)

The Vulcans kicked off the scoring with one run in the top of the first inning.

Slippery Rock responded with three runs in the third inning using some small ball. Paige Parker started the frame with a walk and was pinch ran for by Sydney Lutz. The freshman then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. With Lutz on third, Cal intentionally walked Cavenaugh, who stole second before another pitch was thrown.

With the runners on second and third, Lutz scored and Cavenaugh advanced to third on a wild pitch, followed by Jordyn Pelles reaching on a fielder's choice after laying down a sacrifice bunt that Cavenaugh scored on.

After tying the game 1-1, Mansfield singled and advanced to second on the throw, again placing runners on second and third with one out. Alyssa Sheely kept the train rolling, notching one RBI on a single and giving Slippery Rock a 3-1 advantage.

SRU added an insurance run in the sixth inning. Sheely and Massucci led off the inning with back-to-back singles, followed by an RBI single from Smith.

After six strong innings from Gresgott, the Vulcans loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh. Williams came in and secured the final outs of the day on three straight groundouts, securing a 4-3 victory for The Rock.

At the plate, Mansfield and Sheely racked up two hits each on three at-bats with Sheely adding one RBI.

Massucci and Smith each had one hit with Smith adding on one RBI, along with one RBI from Pelles.
 
Slippery Rock looks to even the season series with Seton Hill University in a crucial PSAC West doubleheader 1 p.m. Saturday at Kasnevich Field. Prior to Saturday's twinbill, Slippery Rock will honor its nine players that are concluding their SRU careers on Senior Day.

Earlier in the season, Seton Hill claimed two one-run victories, 4-3 and 5-4, March 27 at the SHU Softball Field.



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