Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

SLIPPERY ROCK, PA. – The Mercyhurst University softball team dropped two crucial conference contests against Slippery Rock Friday afternoon.  The Lakers suffered a 6-5 loss in game one before losing 15-6 in game two.  Mercyhurst falls to 10-16 overall this season, 1-5 in the PSAC.  Slippery Rock improved to 9-11 overall and 2-2 in the PSAC.
 
Mercyhurst scored first in game.  In the top of the third, senior Julie Harmon drew a walk and scored later when junior Courtney Smith drove in her 13^th baserunner of the season.
 
The Rock battled back by scoring five runs in the next two innings.  Mercyhurst responded in the fifth, cutting the lead to 5-3.  Freshman Taylor Jezuit led off the inning with a double to center field.  Freshman Allison Yule followed with a single to drive in Jezuit.  A throwing error allowed another run to score.
 
Slippery Rock's Katie Saluga hit her sixth homerun of the season to complete The Rock's scoring in game one.  Mercyhurst rallied for two in the seventh, but could not get the tying run.  Yule and Courtney Smith once again contributed, with Smith collecting her second RBI of game.
 
Senior Megan Smith (6-8) gave up eight hits and five runs with one strikeout in 3.2 innings pitched.  Sophomore Annie Truelove came on in relief, pitching 2.1 innings, allowing one hit and one run. She also recorded a season-high four strikeouts. 
 
In game two, the Lakers were once again the first on the board, this time in the second inning. Sophomore Shaina Bunker started the four-run inning with a single to right field and later scored on a hit by senior Kristen Fyffe.  Sophomore Becky Malaga drove in a pair of runs later in the frame. 
 
The Lakers held the lead until giving up three Slippery Rock runs in the bottom of the third.  Breanna Tongel slugged her first homerun of the season while Saluga and Kasier had RBI singles. 
 
Mercyhurst took 6-5 advantage in the fourth.  The Rock, however, tallied a combined 10 runs in the next two at bats to end the game after five innings. 
 
Freshman Chelsea Calabro (0-3) suffered the loss, pitching only one inning and allowing six runs.  Truelove, Griffin and Hopton also saw action on the mound. 
 
The Lakers will travel to Mansfield for some PSAC cross-over action.  The double header will take place Saturday, April 6 at 2:30 p.m.