In their first action of the new season, the Slippery Rock University women’s softball team took part in the Snowbird Freeze Out in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina over the weekend. The Rock played in a total of five games over the course of Friday and Saturday, begining their 2017 campaign with a 1-4 record.
The women opened their season with a 1-0 loss on Friday morning against West Virginia State University. On the mound in game one was senior Carly DeRose. DeRose, who recorded eight wins a season ago, gave up one unearned run and struck out two batters in three innings on the mound. Sophomore Megan Brown led Slippery Rock, who left six runners on base, with two hits in the contest.
In the second of three that took place on Friday, Slippery Rock left three runners on base and lost 11-0 to fellow Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) rival Kutztown University in five innings. Sophomore Andria Copelli was handed the loss, pitching 1.2 innings and giving up five earned runs in the process. Junior Brooke Dawson took over in relief going 2.1 innings and allowing six runs (two earned) and striking out two. The lone hit of the game for The Rock came from junior McKenzie Garland.
Slippery Rock took on Southern New Hampshire University in the third and final game on Friday and ultimately lost with a score of 2-0. Junior Paige Flore got handed the loss, pitching six innings and allowing the two runs (both of which were earned) and also struck out two batters. Brown recorded another two-hit ballgame as the Green and White left a total of 7 runners on base.
The Rock’s woes continued into game four on Saturday with a 5-2 lost against New Haven University. Flore started on the mound for Slippery Rock, giving up two earned runs in 4.1 innings.
Dawson would get the loss, however, by giving up three earned runs and walking four batters. Both runs for the Green and White were unearned, coming off fielding errors. Brown stole third in the opening frame and advanced home on an error and senior Caitlin Baxter was able to score off a throwing error in the fourth inning off a sacrifice bunt by junior Amanda Brush. New Haven would score two runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 5-2 lead, earning the victory. Slippery Rock left a total of five runners on base in the game.
Slippery Rock would finally get their first win of the season in the fifth and final game of the Snowbird Freeze Out, beating Shippensburg University 6-2. DeRose was able to come back and earn her first win and complete game of the season. She gave up two earned runs and struck out seven batters while walking two. Junior catcher Lauren Hawley went two for three with two doubles, a run batted in, and a walk. Baxter went two for three with three runs batted in and a walk. Brown recorded an run batted in and sophomore shortstop Kailey Myers registered two hits.
Freshman Megan Ross recorded a pinch-hit RBI single in the sixth inning to give The Rock a 6-0 lead. Shippensburg would go on to score two runs in the sixth inning but would never threaten Slippery Rock’s lead.
The Green and White will travel to Clermont, Florida to take park in the NTC tournament from March 11-17. The women will play in 12 games in this tournament, the first being on Saturday against New Jersey’s Caldwell University.
