Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ERIE, Pa. – The Mercyhurst University women's softball team split with Slippery Rock University on Sunday afternoon.  The Lakers outhit The Rock in game one to pick up a 3-1 win before falling 8-2 in game two.  Mercyhurst is now 13-21 in the season and fell to 2-6 in the PSAC.  Slippery Rock is now 11-15 overall in the season and 3-5 in the PSAC.
 
For the second time this season, the Lakers outhit Slippery Rock 8-to-3 to grab the game one victory.  Senior Kristen Fyffe notched her first homerun of the season to give the Lakers a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second. 
 
The Rock answered in the top of the fourth with the tying run.  Katie Kaiser drew a lead-off walk to start the inning.  Kaiser advanced on a wild pitch before Alaynna Beers laid down a bunt to push Kaiser to third.  Breanna Tongel grounded out to short-stop but the run scored. 
 
Mercyhurst secured the victory by scoring two runs in the bottom of the fifth.  Junior Courtney Smith and sophomore Shaina Bunker hit back to back singles to start the inning.  Junior Megan Smith advanced Bunker and drove in Smith with her second hit of the contest, a line single to left field.  Then with bases loaded, sophomore Becky Malaga drew a walk to give the Lakers the 3-1 lead.
 
Senior Megan Hopton (8-10), backstopped by the Mercyhurst defense, held the Rock to only one run in seven innings.  Hopton allowed only three hits in 23 batters faced.  She recorded six strikeouts and three walks and allowed one earned run.
 
In game two, the Rock got a two-run homer by Katie Saluga in the first inning.  Katie Kaiser reached first base on an error just before the long ball.
 
The Lakers quickly tied the contest at two.  With two outs and the bases loaded, junior Megan Smith drove in two runs.  Both Courtney Smith and freshman Allison Yule crossed the dish but Bunker was thrown out, the result of a perfect Slippery Rock relay.
 
The Lakers then gave up five runs in the top of the fourth to fall behind 7-2.  Tongel homered for a 3-2 lead.  The Rock then loaded the bases on two walks and a single before Katie Saluga cleared them with a grand slam. 
 
Mrcyhurst could not pull off a comeback.  All-told the Lakers only had four hits in game two, with two of them coming from freshman Taylor Jezuit. 
 
Truelove picked up her second straight loss, allowing five hits, seven runs and collecting two strikeouts.  Hopton pitched three innings in relief, allowing three hits, one run and registering three strikeouts.
 
Mercyhurst outhit the Rock 12-11 in the twinbill.  Slippery Rock won the season-series, beating the Lakers three out of four. 
 
The Lakers travel to Edinboro University next Wednesday for more PSAC West action.  Game one of the doubleheader is set for 2:30 p.m.