SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. (April 14) – The California University of Pennsylvania softball team was swept in a doubleheader at Slippery Rock on Saturday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play, suffering a 5-0 loss in Game 1 before dropping a 6-1 contest in Game 2.
With the losses, the Vulcans fall to 11-11 overall with a 5-3 mark in league action. Meanwhile, The Rock improves to 17-14 this season behind a 4-4 record in divisional play.
In Game 1, Cal U stranded nine runners on base, including five in scoring position, while being shutout for the first time in nearly a month. Junior
Emilee Downing (Groveport, Ohio/Groveport Madison) suffered the loss to fall to 4-2 this season after allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits in 1.2 innings. Slippery Rock senior Brooke Dawson (5-8) tossed a five-hit, complete-game shutout with seven strikeouts over 7.0 innings (145 pitches).
The Rock took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a two-out single before adding a pair of runs in the second following a two-out error. In the third, Slippery Rock collected back-to-back RBI singles with two outs to stretch the lead to 5-0.
In the fourth, Cal U loaded the bases on a pair of singles and one walk with one out before Dawson recorded consecutive strikeouts to end the inning. The Vulcans looked to avoid the shutout in the sixth with back-to-back, two-out singles before a ground-out halted the inning.
In Game 2, junior
Carly Konopka (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) was saddled with the loss after surrendering five runs (four earned) on eight hits in 4.0-plus innings (88 pitches). Rock starter Camie Shumaker (6-4) earned the victory after yielding one run (unearned) on three hits and two walks in 4.0-plus innings (74 pitches).
Slippery Rock took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on three singles and an error before catcher Lauren Hawley belted a two-run homer in the third, 4-0.The Vulcans answered with one run in the bottom of the third on a two-out single by senior third baseman
Carlee Wickstrom (Canonsburg, Pa./Peters Township) that scored freshman second baseman
Alexa Pastor (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield), who reached base on a throwing error.
In the fourth, The Rock stretched the lead to 5-1 on an RBI ground-out after the inning started with back-to-back singles and a sacrifice bunt. Cal U had runners on second and third in the bottom of the fifth before an unassisted ground-out ended the inning. Slippery Rock scored its final run of the game on a two-out error in the seventh.
Cal U is scheduled to return to action on Tuesday, April 17, when it travels to play a non-conference doubleheader at Fairmont State, starting at 2 p.m.
