The Slippery Rock University softball team (14-21 Overall, 9-11 PSAC) split a doubleheader with Salem International University (13-23 Overall, 5-9 G-MAC) Monday.
SRU has not had a non-conference matchup since March 19th, when they lost to Caldwell College.
Salem won the first game 3-1. No scoring happened until the top of the sixth inning. Salem scored all three of its runs in the inning. Senior outfielder Angela McGoldrick got things going for Salem with a solo homerun.
Freshman utility Summer Clark hit a bunt single, and then senior pitcher Katie Mangold hit a single, allowing Clark to advance to second base.
Sophomore catcher Katie Chyrssofos then walked, allowing Clark and Mangold to both advance.
Freshman utility Kylee Cassavaugh pinch ran for Mangold, and then senior pitcher Lise Couturier singled down the left field line, scoring Cassavaugh and Clark.
The Rock scored its one run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Freshman catcher McKenzie Popatak hit a single. Junior outfielder Haley Sherer came into pinch run for Popatak, and then junior outfielder Alaynna Beers hit an RBI double to right-center field, scoring Sherer.
Slippery Rock continues to split every doubleheader matchup. The team has no answer as to why this continues to occur, but they do have some ideas.
“We either come out strong the first game and then become relaxed during the second game, or we lose our first game and gain our focus back for the second game,” senior first basemen Kristin Kaminski said.
Sophomore third basemen Ashley Samluk echoed Kaminski’s comments, saying that the team needs to have better focus.
“It’s a lack of focus for the most part,” Samluk said. “We need to come ready to play for fourteen innings, not seven.”
The Green and White won the second game 3-2. SRU scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning. Sophomore infielder Katie Kaiser hit a solo homerun to center field.
The Rock continued its scoring in the bottom of the second inning. Beers reached first base off of a fielding error by Salem’s shortstop.
Senior first baseman Breanna Tongel singled, allowing Beers to advance to second base.
Sophomore outfielder Megan Maloney hit a sacrifice bunt, allowing Beers and Tongel to advance. Freshman outfielder Eliza Sykes singled to center field, allowing Beers to score, giving the Rock a 2-0 lead.
Salem scored two runs in the top of the third inning.
Junior utility Kayla Guta singled to left field.
Guta stole second, and then advanced to third base after a single by sophomore utility Bre’Ana Felix.
Clark then singled, allowing Guta to score and Felix to advance to second base. Mangold singled to left field, allowing Felix to score, tying the game at 2-2.
The Green and White capped off the game’s scoring in the bottom of the fourth inning. Tongel started things off with a single.
Senior infielder Lindsey Kelenske then singled, allowing Tongel to advance to second base.
Sherer pinch ran for Tongel, and eventually scored off of a fielding error by Salem’s shortstop.
The Rock will look to make a playoff push this weekend. Starting on Friday, April 24, SRU will face Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in a doubleheader.
They will then face Indiana University of Pa. on Saturday, and California University of Pa. on Sunday. SRU is currently tied for fourth place in the PSAC standings.
