Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ERIE, Pa. – Senior Megan Smith drives a three-run homerun in the bottom of the seventh in route to a split over Slippery Rock on Thursday afternoon at the Mercyhurst Softball Field.  The Lakers captured a 3-2 win before dropping a 9-8 decision in game two.
 
The Lakers are now 8-10 in the PSAC West and are 12-20 overall this season.  Slippery Rock improved to 13-16 overall this season and are 6-10 in the PSAC.
 
Senior Megan Smith was the homerun hero in game one as the Lakers trailed 3-0 against the Rock after allowing a run in the first and sixth innings.  Mercyhurst had senior Kayleigh Milliman and freshman Kyshawuanna Nance reach the base with two outs and the top of the order on deck.  With a 3-2 count against Smith, Rock pitcher Emily Lobdell suffered the loss after Smith drilled the ball over the left center fence.
 
Junior Annie Truelove earned her sixth win of the season after pitching seven complete innings, allowing five hits for two unearned runs and struck out five.  Her counterpart, Lobdell, pitched 6.2 innings, allowing five hits for three runs and three walks.
 
In game two, the Lakers trailed early as the Rock capitalized on Mercyhurst's late error in the inning with a three run homerun by Cailtin Baxter to extend the lead 6-0.  Mercyhurst crossed the dish once in the second half of the inning but Slippery Rock's Taylor Welch hit a solo homerun in the second to extend the 7-1 lead. 
 
At the bottom of the second the Lakers narrow the lead, 7-4, after a two out rally starting with Milliman.  With sophomore Taylor Jezuit on second, Milliman drove in Jezuit with a single RBI to right center field.  Nance hit a single in the infield and advanced Milliman to third base with Megan Smith approaching the plate.  The next pitch Smith hit her second homerun of the day to drive in three of the four runs of the inning.
 
The Rock's Katie Kaiser tallied Slippery Rocks second homerun of the game off a two-run shot to left field.  However Mercyhurst answered back with an unearned run at the bottom of the fourth and again with a homerun by senior Courtney Smith to trail 9-8 with one complete inning left in the game. 
 
Sophomore Kayla Larson drilled the ball to left center field with one out however the Lakers could not muster any more offense as Slippery Rock collected the final two outs of the inning.
 
Junior Alexandra Puckly suffered the loss on the mound after allowing seven hits for four earned runs and four strikeouts.  Annie Truelove appeared on the mound starting in the fourth inning to allow two hits in three innings and struck out five batters.  The Rock's pitcher Carly DeRose (6-7) allowed 11 hits for six earned runs and two strikeouts. 
 
Five different players went yard in game two for a total of six homeruns throughout the two contests.  Megan Smith collected two homeruns for six runs scored while Courtney Smith drove in two runs off one homerun.  Megan Smith leads the team with six homeruns so far this season. 
 
The Lakers host Edinboro University for their first meeting of the season on Friday, April 18 at the Mercyhurst Softball Field.  First pitch against the Fighting Scots is set for 2:30 p.m.  The Lakers also host Gannon University on Saturday, April 19 for a 1:00 p.m. start before the Easter Holiday.