On Saturday, the Slippery Rock University softball team defeated California University (Pa.) to improve their overall record to 12-10.
In game one, Rachel Baker threw seven complete innings, surrendering just four hits, two walks and two runs, while striking out eight.
In the top of the fifth, freshman Maddie Cavenaugh reached first base on a passed ball following a strikeout. Capitalizing on the error, pinch runner Jessica Goldhardt scored what would be the eventual winning run on the play, with SRU taking game one, 3-2.
Despite the close score in game one, SRU would leave no doubt in game two, ultimately concluding in a mercy-rule finish.
Senior pitcher Paige Gresgott tossed five complete innings, allowing one run on five hits.
Slippery Rock’s batters combined for 13 hits in the win between 14 different players. Grace Smith recorded 4 RBIs in the 11-1 victory over the Vulcans.
For The Rock, Alyssa Sheely, Massucci and Cavenaugh lead the team in the major statistical hitting categories.
Sheely ranks third in the conference in batting average, hitting .481 with a 1.193 OPS. Massucci and Cavenaugh follow behind her at ninth and tenth respectively, posting averages of .424 and .413.
Collectively, the White and Green hit for a .309 average at the plate. Cavenaugh leads the team in home runs with five, followed by Massucci with three and Sheely with two. Jordyn Pelles, Aubrey Mansfield, Addie Deal and Addie Warzala have also recorded home runs, lifting the team total to 14.
In conference play, Slippery Rock leads the PSAC in batting average, hitting .367.
On the bump, SRU boasts a 3.69 ERA, limiting opponents to a .251 average.
Baker leads with a 2.52 ERA (fifth in conference) and a .220 opponent batting average (seventh in conference), accounting for a 7-3 record as a starter.
A freshman from Canal Fulton, Ohio, Baker was named the PSAC West Pitcher of the Week on Monday. This honor marks her second of the season, the first Rock athlete to do so since Kelsi Anderson in 2022.
In her other contest last week, Baker pitched seven innings in a 5-0 win over Edinboro, surrendering just two hits and two walks along with four strikeouts.
In 42 innings of work, Gresgott has posted a 4.17 ERA while holding batters to a .268 average.
Sophomore Kayla Williams holds a 4.88 ERA, along with a .269 opponent average in 28.2 innings pitched.
Brooke Tatar, Alexa Uphold and Mackenzie Borkovich round out the remainder of the pitching staff, combining for a 7.91 ERA in 9.1 innings.
Looking ahead, Slippery Rock softball will play host to the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown on Friday, before returning to action on Saturday against Indiana University (Pa.).
In their most recent matchup, SRU fell to UPJ 10-0 in five innings back on April 21, 2025. Despite this, Slippery Rock has defeated UPJ in six of their last eight contests.
Pitt-Johnstown enters the series winning just one of their last seven games. On Monday, the Mountain Cats fell to Gannon in both games of their doubleheader, being outscored 21-2.
Pitt-Johnstown currently sits sixth in the PSAC West, holding a 2-6 conference record and 8-11 overall.
At the plate, UPJ ranks 16 of 17 in conference with a batting average of .253, ahead of only Mansfield University at .242.
Meghan McDonough leads the team with a .979 OPS, three home runs and seven RBI’s. Jessica Pugh follows with a .326 average, .885 OPS and two home runs.
Despite this, the Mountain Cats boast one of the better pitching staffs in the PSAC, ranking fifth in the conference with an ERA of 3.37, while allowing just 60 total earned runs, the lowest mark in the conference.
Mia Smith leads the UPJ rotation with a 2.27 ERA and a .213 opponent batting average, both of which rank in the top five in the PSAC.
Opposite them, Indiana enters Saturday’s contest winning seven of their last eight following a pair of 13-5 wins over Edinboro. The Crimson Hawks have played the most overall games out of anyone else in the conference, with a 14-15 record.
Despite Indiana holding a 30-21 advantage in the all-time series against SRU, Slippery Rock has defeated IUP in 12 of their last 15 matchups.
IUP will look to overtake Slippery Rock for first place in the standings, with both teams holding a 6-2 conference record.
At the plate, the Crimson Hawks rank tenth in the conference with a .275 average, along with 17 home runs and 133 RBI’s.
Brianna Pusateri holds a .371 batting average and a .936 OPS in 70 at bats, with Madison Pikula hitting .369 and .922 in 111 at bats.
Likewise on the mound, IUP sits near the middle of the pack in the conference, ranking tenth with a team ERA of 4.23.
Taylor Bumgardner leads the Hawks pitching staff with a 3.79 ERA and 1.39 WHIP in 79.1 innings of work.
Slippery Rock softball will kickoff the home stand doubleheader on Friday against Pitt-Johnstown, before returning to action on Saturday against Indiana (Pa.).
Following the pair of doubleheaders, SRU will return to the road to face Lock Haven University on April 7.
