April 26, 2003

Contact: Bob McComas (724) 738-2777 e-mail: robert.mccomas@sru.edu

ROCK SOFTBALL SPLITS WITH LOCK HAVEN

            SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Junior shortstop Lori Slozat (Meadville/Meadville HS) had five hits in two games Thursday afternoon, but it wasn’t enough as Slippery Rock University split a pair of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-Western Division softball games against visiting Lock Haven University.

           Slozat was 3-for-5 with three RBIs and a triple to lead The Rock to an 11-6 win in the first game. She was 2-for-3 in the second game, which Lock Haven won by an 8-0 score in a contest called after five innings in accordance with the “mercy rule.”

           The split put SRU’s overall record at 10-24 and its PSAC-West mark at 3-15. Lock Haven is now 11-19, 5-11.

           Senior first baseman Caitlin Chandler (Havertown/Cardinal O’Hara HS) and freshman center fielder Shannon Tagliaferri (Williamsport/Loyalsock Township HS) were both 3-for-4 and had one RBI for SRU in the first game. Junior designated hitter Beth Rebholz (Pittsburgh/Shaler HS) was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

           The Rock, after having 16 hits in the first game, managed only five hits in the second game.

           The first-game winning pitcher was senior Nikki Cothran (Kansas City, MO/Sumner Academy). She allowed six runs (three earned) on eight hits, struck out one and walked one in 5 2/3 innings before being hit with a line drive and improved her record to 4-7.

           Sophomore Candice Nase (Telford/Souderton HS) was tagged with the second-game loss after she allowed eight earned runs on seven hits, struck out four and walked four. She is now 3-8 on the year.

           The Rock closes out its season on Saturday when it travels to Indiana U. of Pa. for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.

           Those games will be the final ones for Rock head coach Joanne Leight, who is stepping down at the end of the season to devote her attention to completing her doctorate degree at Duquesne University and serving as an assistant professor of physical education.

           Leight has an 84-176 record in seven seasons at The Rock and owns a 259-255 career record in 16 seasons as a collegiate head coach.

# ROCK PRIDE #