April 15, 2008

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

Erie, Pa. - Although the Mercyhurst softball team just one hit less than Slippery Rock Tuesday, the Lakers failed to push runs across and lost 6-1 and 4-1 in a doubleheader. Mercyhurst left runners in scoring position five times in the opening game and four more times in game two.

Jessica McNurlen tripled twice in game one, picking up her first three-bagger in the first inning but was left stranded. Slippery Rock scored twice in the second, one on a bases loaded walk and another on an RBI single, and the Lakers left a runner on second in the bottom half of the inning.

Slippery Rock picked up another run in the third on a pair of doubles and the Lakers left a runner on second in each of the next three innings. Slippery Rock pushed across another run in the sixth to make it 4-0 but McNurlen led off with a triple in the bottom of the sixth and eventually scored on Michelle Schmitz's sacrifice fly to right field. Slippery Rock added two more runs in the top of the seventh to close out the scoring.

Each team had seven hits in the opener and McNurlen and Schmitz each had two for the Lakers. Stacey Rhoades went all seven innings on the mound for Slippery Rock to get the win and she added a 3-for-4 day at the plate. Three Mercyhurst pitchers held Slippery Rock to seven hits but also handed out nine walks. Amanda Norman took the loss, pitching the first three innings before Brittany Strier came in for the next three. Kari Amboyer relieved Strier in the seventh and retired three of the four batters she faced.

In game two, Mercyhurst had chances to jump out on top early but was unable to capitalize. Kara Gorgos singled to lead off the bottom of the first and advanced to second on a throwing error by the right fielder. She moved up to third with just one but was unable to score after a pair of pop-ups to the infield.

In the bottom of the third, Anna Glomb was hit by a pitch and Gorgos and Erin Ratajczak followed with singles to load the bases with one out. But two more pop-ups in the infield left the runners stranded again.

Slippery Rock finally struck in the top of the fourth on a Courtney Vincent RBI single and the team added another run in the fifth on a Rhoades RBI single.

Mercyhurst cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the sixth as McNurlen led off with a single and Megan Houston followed with a double to put runners on second and third with nobody out. McNurlen scored when the Slippery Rock catcher tried to pick her off third and threw the ball away, putting Houston on third with nobody out. But the Lakers failed to push across the tie run and Slippery Rock added two more in the seventh for the 4-1 final.

Slippery Rock outhit Mercyhurst 7-6 in game two and Gorgos was the only Laker with more than one hit, going 2-for-4. Jessica Kortz and Sheree Horvath had two hits each for Slippery Rock.

Lisa Getgen got the win on the mound, going all seven innings and allowing just one unearned run. Carrina Crow took the complete game loss, allowing two earned runs and striking out five.

Slippery Rock improves to 20-10 on the year and Mercyhurst falls to 17-21. The Lakers host Notre Dame (Ohio) Wednesday at 3 p.m.