SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. — The Slippery Rock University softball team will play eight Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division games over the next six days beginning with a trip to Seton Hill University 2 p.m. Thursday and a home doubleheader versus Clarion 2 p.m. Friday at Kasnevich Field.
The Rock will then remain home to host Pitt-Johnstown 2 p.m. Monday before traveling to Indiana University (Pa.) for a paring of road games 2 p.m. Tuesday.
Slippery Rock enters the stretch run with an 18-15 overall record and a 12-3 mark in the PSAC West.
The Seton Hill Griffins are now on an eight-game winning streak at 23-13 on the season and 12-8 in the conference.
The Clarion Golden Eagles will look to snap a seven-game losing streak when they host Pitt-Johnstown Thursday before heading to Slippery Rock Friday. Entering the UPJ series, Clarion is 8-22 overall and 4-10 inside the PSAC West.
The Pitt-Johnstown Mountain Cats will also play Edinboro before coming to Slippery Rock Monday. Prior to both the Clarion and Boro doubleheaders, Pitt-Johnstown stands at 6-24 overall and 3-13 in league action.
The Crimson Hawks of Indiana University (Pa.) are only slated to play one other doubleheader before hosting SRU Tuesday, traveling to Clarion the day prior. With the weekend off, IUP's 22-12 overall record contains a 13-7 mark in the PSAC West.
MOTHER NATURE IS UNPREDICTABLE
With the unpredictable spring weather in western Pennsylvania, fans are reminded that any time / location / date changes will be posted on rockathletics.com and all of SRU athletics' official social media accounts as information becomes available. Updates regarding potential postponements and rescheduled games will be included below.
NO PETS AT KASNEVICH FIELD
Fans are reminded that there are NO PETS allowed at Kasnevich Field or in any SRU Athletics facilities. Please do not bring dogs or any other pets to the game. Unless they are a registered service animal, you will be asked to remove your pet from the facility.
WATCH ON YOUR TV - "ROCK ATHLETICS DIGITAL NETWORK" APPS
• Fans can watch Friday's and Monday's games live and on-demand for free on the Rock Athletics Digital Network, created and operated by the SRU athletic communication office.
• Search for Rock Athletics Digital Network in the app stores on Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku and Android TV devices. The streaming web player linked above will also integrate with Chrome Cast devices to allow viewers to cast the game to those devices.
WATCH AWAY GAMES LIVE
Fans can watch Thursday's games live for free via the links below provided by Seton Hill Athletic Communication and Tuesday's games via the links below provided by IUP Athletic Communications.
GAMES 35-36 of 46
Opponent: Seton Hill
Date: Tuesday – 2 p.m. / 4 p.m.
Location: Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Venue: SHU Softball Complex
Live Video: Westmoreland Sports Network
Live Stats: Seton Hill Athletic Communication
In-game Updates: X (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: 20-25
Current Streak: W4
Last Played: March 29, 2025 (Game One: W, 3-2 | Game Two: W, 8-3)
TOP ACTIVE SRU CAREER STATS vs. SETON HILL
Julia Nutter (.375) – 6-for-16, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 runs (7 GP)
Naomi Childs (.375) – 6-for-16, 1 RBI (8 GP)
Julia Montie (.290) – 9-for-31, 2 HR, 1 2B, 5 RBI, 5 runs (12 GP)
Alexsa Hurd (5-1) – 2.31 ERA, 46 strikeouts (30.1 IP)
Paige Gresgott (1-0) – 2.47 ERA, 2 strikeouts (5.2 IP)
SERIES HISTORY vs. SETON HILL
Slippery Rock heads to Seton Hill on a four-game winning streak against the Griffins including 3-2 and 8-3 home wins March 29. That said, The Rock are 5-17 when playing Seton Hill on the road and have left Greensburg with a win just twice in the last six years.
SRU's only road sweep at SHU came in 2016. Two wins over Seton Hill would tie Slippery Rock's largest winning streak against the Griffins in series history. The Rock won the first six meetings between the two sides between 2005-14. The Rock have not won a season series against Seton Hill since going 3-1 in 2016.
GAMES 37-38 of 46
Opponent: Clarion
Date: Friday – 2 p.m. / 4 p.m.
Location: Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania
Venue: Kasnevich Field
Live Video: Rock Athletics Digital Network
Live Stats: Slippery Rock Athletic Communication
In-game Updates: X (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: 74-42
Current Streak: L1
Last Played: March 28, 2025 at Clarion (Game One: W, 10-1 | Game Two: L, 13-9)
TOP ACTIVE SRU CAREER STATS vs. CLARION
Julia Nutter (.600) – 9-for-15, 3 HR, 2 2B, 1 3B, 5 RBI, 6 runs (8 GP)
Aubrey Mansfield (.447) – 17-for-38, 2 HR, 5 2B, 9 RBI, 8 runs (10 GP)
Emma Kennedy (.387) – 12-for-31, 2 HR, 1 2B, 6 RBI, 9 runs (11 GP)
Alexsa Hurd (.372) – 16-for-43, 2 HR, 1 2B, 1 3B, 13 RBI, 11 runs (12 GP)
Alexsa Hurd (3-1) – 4.69 ERA, 48 strikeouts (31.1 IP)
SERIES HISTORY vs. CLARION
Friday will see the 117
th and 118
th all-time meetings between The Rock and the Golden Eagles, a series that began in 1979. Slippery Rock is 41-19 when hosting Clarion, winning 16 of its last 18 home games against the Golden Eagles.
The Rock split their road doubleheader at Clarion earlier this year, taking game one 10-1 in five innings before falling late in game two 13-9. The Rock went 3-1 against Clarion last year, but Clarion won the series 3-1 in 2023 for the first time since 2004.
GAMES 39-40 of 46
Opponent: Pitt-Johnstown
Date: Monday – 2 p.m. / 4 p.m.
Location: Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania
Venue: Kasnevich Field
Live Video: Rock Athletics Digital Network
Live Stats: Slippery Rock Athletic Communication
In-game Updates: X (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: 10-6
Current Streak: W3
Last Played: March 21, 2025 at UPJ (Game One: W, 5-1 | Game Two: W, 18-14)
TOP ACTIVE SRU CAREER STATS vs. PITT-JOHNSTOWN
Julia Nutter (.556) – 10-for-18, 5 HR, 1 2B, 15 RBI, 7 runs (8 GP)
Alexsa Hurd (.535) – 23-for-43, 7 HR, 2 2B, 23 RBI, 11 runs (12 GP)
Arielle Brown (.421) – 16-for-38, 1 HR, 1 2B, 4 RBI, 12 runs (11 GP)
Julia Montie (.366) – 15-for-41, 4 HR, 4 2B, 12 RBI, 10 runs (12 GP)
Alexsa Hurd (2-3) – 4.75 ERA, 35 strikeouts (28.0 IP)
SERIES HISTORY vs. PITT-JOHNSTOWN
Slippery Rock's current three-game winning streak over Pitt-Johnstown is the largest either side has experienced in the teams' brief 10-year-old series history. The Rock swept the Mountain Cats on the road March 21 with 5-1 and 18-14 victories.
Slippery Rock is 3-3 all-time when hosting Pitt-Johnstown, making quick work of a doubleheader last year with 9-1 and 9-0 run-rule wins.
Kelsi Anderson and
Alexsa Hurd needed only 68 combined pitches in last season's game-two win over Pitt-Johnstown. The Rock allowed a total of three UPJ hits throughout the doubleheader.
GAMES 41-42 of 46
Opponent: Indiana (Pa.)
Date: Tuesday – 2 p.m. / 4 p.m.
Location: Indiana, Pennsylvania
Venue: Ruth Podbielski Field
Live Video: PSAC Sports Digital Network
Live Stats: IUP Athletic Communications
In-game Updates: X (@Rock_Athletics)
All-Time Series: 51-80
Current Streak: L1
Last Played: April 1, 2025 at SRU (Game One: W, 6-5 | Game Two: L, 16-10)
TOP ACTIVE SRU CAREER STATS vs. INDIANA (Pa.)
Alyssa Sheely (.435) – 10-for-23, 1 HR, 2 2B, 5 RBI, 7 runs (9 GP)
Aubrey Mansfield (.333) – 11-for-33, 1 HR, 5 2B, 6 RBI, 7 runs (10 GP)
Alexsa Hurd (.314) – 11-for-35, 3 HR, 3 2B, 12 RBI, 10 runs (12 GP)
Julia Montie (.286) – 10-for-35, 3 HR, 6 2B, 11 RBI, 8 runs (12 GP)
Alexsa Hurd (6-1) – 1.74 ERA, 49 strikeouts (44.1 IP)
SERIES HISTORY vs. INDIANA (Pa.)
Game one Tuesday will mark the 132
nd all-time clash between The Rock and IUP. Slippery Rock has won 10 of the last 13 meetings between the two teams, splitting earlier this year at home with a 6-5 win and a 16-10 loss.
The Rock are 22-40 when traveling to Indiana, fighting back in game two for the split last year. IUP took game one 10-1 before The Rock snatched game two 7-3. SRU took both road games from Indiana two years ago, 7-3 and 8-0. A sweep for IUP would mark the Crimson Hawks' first series win over Slippery Rock since 2021.
| TEAM COMPARISON (as of April 16) |
| ROCK |
Stat |
SHU |
CLAR |
UPJ |
IUP |
| 18-15 |
Overall Record |
23-13 |
8-22 |
6-24 |
22-12 |
| 12-3 |
Conference Record |
12-8 |
4-10 |
3-13 |
13-7 |
| .284 |
Batting Avg. |
.333 |
.263 |
.251 |
.328 |
| 5.7 |
Runs per Game |
7.0 |
4.6 |
3.4 |
7.7 |
| 6.1 |
Opp. Runs per Game |
5.6 |
7.9 |
7.1 |
4.7 |
| 8.0 |
Hits per Game |
9.4 |
6.6 |
6.7 |
8.9 |
| 7.4 |
Opp. Hits per Game |
7.3 |
9.9 |
9.5 |
7.5 |
| 1.5 |
Errors per Game |
1.8 |
1.4 |
1.6 |
0.8 |
| 1.0 |
HR per Game |
1.1 |
0.6 |
0.3 |
0.6 |
| .455 |
SLG% |
.539 |
.396 |
.352 |
.482 |
| .363 |
OB% |
.397 |
.369 |
.319 |
.414 |
| .949 |
FLD% |
.941 |
.949 |
.947 |
.967 |
| 4.56 |
ERA |
4.59 |
7.43 |
6.13 |
4.38 |
| .275 |
Opp. Batting Avg. |
.273 |
.358 |
.331 |
.298 |
THE ROCK BY THE NUMBERS (as of April 16) | Roster | Stats
Overall Record: 18-15
PSAC West Record: 12-3
Home Record: 8-1
Away Record: 8-4
Neutral Record: 2-10
Last Five Games: 4-1
Streak: W2
PSAC West Rank: 1
st of 8
Head Coach: Stacey Rice | 11
th season at SRU (200-243-1)
LAST TIME OUT
Slippery Rock rebounded after a 15-13game-one loss to California (Pa.) April 13 by putting together a 19-4 game-two victory that featured 11 runs in the seventh inning.
Hurd's 13 strikeouts in 7.0 innings against Gannon University in game one April 15 carried SRU to a 4-1 win before game two was interrupted in the bottom of the second by inclement weather. The remainder of that game will be played out at a later date yet to be determined.
LEADING THE ROCK
Freshman
Shaylyn Shall continues to lead Slippery Rock's offense, now batting .392 on the season while racking up an OPS of 1.001. The Aliquippa, Pennsylvania native is trying to become the first Rock softball freshman in 15 years to bat at least .375 in their first season of play.
Emma Kennedy is batting .352 overall (25-for-71) with five doubles and two home runs, just in front of
Julia Nutter's .326. Nutter leads The Rock slugging .697 thanks to a squad-high nine home runs.
Hurd is hitting .301 with a team-leading 28 RBI, stemming largely from 10 doubles and eight home runs.
Aubrey Mansfield (.294),
Julia Montie (.283) and
Arielle Brown (.225) round out SRU's qualified batters.
Sydney Brown (.375),
Naomi Childs (.350) and
Jessica Goldhardt (.342) are all significantly chipping into the offense as well, combining for 18 RBI on the season.
BULLPEN REPORT
Hurd (11-4, 1) returned to the circle against Gannon after serving as the team's DP at California (Pa.) and threw 13 strikeouts in the complete game-win. She now has an era of 2.75 and is limiting opponents to just a .229 batting average.
Hurd has now thrown at least 10 strikeouts in each of her last 10 complete-game appearances. She also ranks third in Division II with 11.3 strikeouts per seven innings, propelling The Rock to rank fifth in the country as a team with 7.6 Ks per seven.
Hurd is eight strikeouts away from
Kelsi Anderson's 176 Ks posted in the 2023 season, the school's single-season record. Nine additional strikeouts would give Hurd the record.
Paige Gresgott (3-7) has tossed 54 strikeouts in 68.0 innings as SRU's typical game-two starter. The Slippery Rock local earned the first complete-game win of her career in the 19-4 victory over California. Gresgott now has a 5.87 ERA and a WHIP of 2.13 on the season.
Kayla Williams (2-2, 2) has impressed as of late in her relief appearances, getting her first career start in the circle in game one at Cal. Williams has now tossed 11 Ks in 22.2 innings pitched with a 7.72 ERA.
Alexa Uphold (2-2) was the pitcher of loss in that Cal contest, now with a 7.16 ERA.
Mackenzie Borkovich has also given six strikeouts to The Rock this season with a 3.77 ERA through eight appearances.
WHERE THEY STAND
With Slippery Rock leading the PSAC West standings by 1.5 games, The Rock are in a fairly comfortable position to clinch one of the top five seeds in the division that advance to the PSAC Tournament. In a worst-case scenario, Slippery Rock only needs to win six of its final 13 games to clinch one of the five playoff berths up for grabs.
The Rock are currently leading the PSAC West with a 12-3 league record, which puts them ahead of IUP's 13-7, Gannon's 12-7 and Seton Hill's 12-8. As of April 16, California (Pa.) has the final PSAC West allotment for the postseason at 8-10 ahead of Edinboro (5-11), Clarion (4-10) and Pitt-Johnstown (3-13).
Slippery Rock's lone PSAC Tournament Championship came in the 1981 season under head coach Jan Kasnevich's leadership.
RICE REACHES 200
Slippery Rock's 4-1 win over Gannon marked the 200
th victory of head coach
Stacey Rice's career. Rice became the program's all-time wins leader earlier this year when a 3-2 final over the University of Sioux Falls served as her 185
th career win.
NEW FACES UP TO BAT
While no stranger to the diamond as a whole, Williams went 2-for-3 at the plate against California (Pa.), securing her first two collegiate hits by way of a double, a single and two RBI.
True freshman from New Castle, Pennsylvania
Ali Giordano also recorded her first career at-bat in the game, while
Alyssa Massucci of Warren, Ohio returned to the batter's box as well.
NUTTER LEADING THE BOMB UNIT
Despite no home runs in the first two years of her career, Nutter is now up to 17 career homers, enough to enter the top 10 all-time in Rock softball history. She leads the team this season with nine and leads the PSAC as a whole and ranks 28
th nationally with 0.3 home runs per game. Hurd's 0.24 homers per game rank third in the PSAC right behind her.
Of Nutter's 17 career home runs, 10 have come in two-home run games. Her fifth multi-homer game occurred in SRU's 19-4 win over the Vulcans. Nutter's two home runs highlighted a 4-for-4 effort with five RBI.
Slippery Rock ranks second in the PSAC with both 32 total home runs and 0.97 home runs per game. Seton Hill has recorded 1.06 home runs per game, totaling 38 overall.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Slippery Rock's doubleheader split at Cal came with a combined 14 doubles including eight in game two. The Rock have only ever hit eight doubles in a single game one other time in recorded program history – a win over Edinboro in 2013.
SRU's 19 runs also wound up tying for ninth all-time in program history. The Rock have not scored 19 runs in a game since dropping 23 on Clarion in 2019.
As a team, Slippery Rock now ranks third in the PSAC and 19
th in Division II with 1.82 doubles per game. Hurd and Mansfield both line up 10
th in the conference with 0.3 doubles per game.
AB GETTING HER STEPS IN
Arielle Brown became the program leader in all-time walks earlier this season and has only continued to add to her tally of 95. Brown has drawn an average of 0.82 walks per game as Slippery Rock's lead-off batter this season, which ranks third in Division II and second in the PSAC behind Indiana (Pa.)'s Delaney Patella (0.84).
TAKING EXTRA STRIDES
Goldhardt has now stolen 20 bases this season for Slippery Rock, which ranks 13
th all-time in program history. The sophomore transfer from New Albany, Ohio ranks fifth in the PSAC in stolen bases, just ahead of
Arielle Brown's 14 – who ranks fifth in the conference with 0.5 stolen bases per game.
As a team, Slippery Rock is second in the PSAC with 1.79 stolen bases per game
RECORD WATCH
• Montie,
Arielle Brown and Hurd all moved up in the all-time record books for most games started and played, with Montie leading the way now with 172 appearances, fourth all-time. Head coach
Stacey Rice leads the way with 179.
Arielle Brown moved up to 171, with Hurd improving to 165.
Arielle Brown and Montie also started their 171
st games, tied for third. Alexa Guglielmino holds the all-time record with 176.
• Montie has now joined Hurd and
Arielle Brown in taking her 500
th career at-bat this season. They join Katie Kaiser and
Stacey Rice as the only five players in recorded SRU softball history to cross the 500-at-bat mark.
• Hurd became the program's all-time leader with 38 doubles in the Cal series, passing Rice's 37. Montie is right behind them with 31.
• Hurd's game-one win over Gannon served as the 34
th victory of her career, surpassing Brooke Dawson's 33 for second all-time. 34 wins was how many
Kelsi Anderson needed to take the record last season, but she finished her career with a program-leading 39 wins.
THE GRIFFINS BY THE NUMBERS | Roster | Stats
Overall Record: 23-13
PSAC West Record: 12-8
Home Record: 13-5
Away Record: 10-8
Neutral Record: 0-0
Last Five Games: 5-0
Streak: W8
PSAC West Rank: 4
th of 8
Head Coach: Cassie Moore | Third season at SHU (89-47, .654)
HC Career Record: 163-121-1 (.574) in eight seasons
SETON HILL SCOUTING REPORT
The red-hot Griffins are looking for a ninth and 10
th consecutive win Thursday, fresh off a pair of run-rule wins over IUP (13-5, 6 inn. and 14-11, 5 inn.). Seton Hill was swept by The Rock in 3-2 and 8-3 decisions March 29 at Kasnevich Field. Since then, SHU has won 10 of its last 12 games.
The Griffins lead Division II with 2.4 doubles per game with Kassidy Wittig leading the way at the plate. The redshirt sophomore from Pittsburgh is batting .435 with a .532 on-base percentage that ranks third in the PSAC. Bre Athey leads the conference and ranks eighth in the country with 0.44 doubles per game, slugging .670 and batting .376.
Two-way player Shelby Telegdy (10-7, 1) has a team-leading 3.30 ERA in addition to her 1.108 OPS and seven home runs. The true freshman from Elizabeth, Pennsylvania has tossed 69 Ks in 114.2 innings. She fanned seven batters in 6.0 innings in her game-one loss to Slippery Rock earlier this season.
THE GOLDEN EAGLES BY THE NUMBERS (As of April 16) | Roster | Stats
Overall Record: 8-22
PSAC West Record: 4-10
Home Record: 2-6
Away Record: 3-7
Neutral Record: 3-9
Last Five Games: 0-5
Streak: L7
PSAC West Rank: 7
th of 8
Head Coach: Marissa Pullo | Third season at Clarion (40-82, .328)
HC Career Record: Same
CLARION SCOUTING REPORT
Since walking Slippery Rock off with a grand slam March 28 in a 13-9 game-two win, Clarion has won just one of its last eight games, splitting with Edinboro. The Golden Eagles will play host to Pitt-Johnstown Thursday before traveling to Slippery Rock Friday.
Senior first baseman Desi Allen leads the team with a .333 batting average, combining for two home runs and a team-high eight doubles to slug .520. Against PSAC West opponents, the Leavittsburg, Ohio native is slugging .800 and batting .429.
Clarion's pitching staff ranks 16
th of 17 in the PSAC with 11.4 hits allowed per seven innings, bringing a combined ERA of 7.48 to the circle. Ainsley Perdicaris (4-8) is the bullpen's leader with a 6.65 ERA as well as 51 strikeouts in 66.1 innings pitched. Clarion is allowing opponents to bat .358 overall and .382 in conference play.
THE MOUNTAIN CATS BY THE NUMBERS (As of April 16) | Roster | Stats
Overall Record: 6-24
PSAC West Record: 3-13
Home Record: 2-6
Away Record: 3-9
Neutral Record: 1-9
Last Five Games: 0-5
Streak: L6
PSAC West Rank: 8
th of 8
Head Coach: Niki Pecora | 10
th season at UPJ (117-228, .339)
HC Career Record: Same
PITT-JOHNSTOWN SCOUTING REPORT
The Mountain Cats opened conference play with two losses to Slippery Rock and have since then gone 3-11 in league competition, including six consecutive losses. UPJ will look to get back into the win column Thursday at Clarion and Friday versus Edinboro before traveling to Slippery Rock Monday.
Sophomore Isabella DePalma leads UPJ offensively with a .329 batting average, while Julia Mooney has slugged a team-high .549 with five of the team's 10 home runs and six of the crew's 39 doubles.
UPJ's pitchers are allowing 10.5 hits per seven innings with a combined 6.13 ERA. Mia Smith (4-11) leads the Mountain Cats from the circle with a 5.44 ERA as well as 71 strikeouts in 99.0 innings. She is one of just three players to have pitched for UPJ this year, joining Mahlon Yonkin (2-12) and Addison Hilligsberg (0-1).
THE CRIMSON HAWKS BY THE NUMBERS (As of April 20) | Roster | Stats
Overall Record: 22-12
PSAC West Record: 13-7
Home Record: 7-1
Away Record: 4-5
Neutral Record: 11-6
Last Five Games: 2-3
Streak: L3
PSAC West Rank: 2
nd of 8
Head Coach: Shawna Bellaud | 7
th season at IUP (130-133-1, .494)
HC Career Record: 152-154-1 (.497) in eight seasons
INDIANA (Pa.) SCOUTING REPORT
The Crimson Hawks split with Slippery Rock April 1 in what was a battle at the time for first place in the PSAC West. Since then, IUP has gone 5-5 with just one sweep against Edinboro. Indiana will travel to Clarion Monday before hosting Slippery Rock Tuesday at Ruth Podbielski Field.
IUP is the highest scoring team in the conference and ranks sixth nationally with 7.7 runs per game. The Crimson Hawks also rank second in the PSAC West batting .327. Madison Pikula (.421) and Maddie Griffin (.411) lead IUP at the plate, combining for 12 doubles and nine triples. Delaney Patella is slugging .772 with five of IUP's 20 homers on the year.
Sophomore Kendall Young (13-3, 1) of St. Mary's Pennsylvania leads the IUP bullpen with a 2.80 ERA on top of 80 strikeouts in 105.0 innings. Young's 1.13 WHIP and 6.2 hits allowed per game both rank eighth in the PSAC. Olivia Hillegas (8-7) has chipped in a winning record as well with a 5.08 ERA and 37 Ks in 82.2 innings pitched.
LOOKING AHEAD
Slippery Rock will play its final home games of the 2025 regular season 2 p.m. Friday, April 25 when it celebrates Senior Day versus California (Pa.). The Rock will conclude their regular season slate with a road doubleheader at Edinboro 1 p.m. Saturday, April 26.
To stay up to date with all that happens at The Rock, follow our official athletic communication accounts on 'X' (formerly Twitter, @Rock_Athletics), Facebook (RockAthletics) and Instagram (RockAthletics).
