SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Indiana University of Pennsylvania softball program ran into a pair of stellar pitchers deployed by The Rock, scoring only four runs with nine hits during the doubleheader as they fell in both tilts, 2-0 and 8-4.
 
Game one saw Indiana (PA) land just six baserunners as Paige Truax, Jess Cekada, and Lexi Dawson smacked singles while Delaney Patella (2x) plus Madeline Miller walked.
 
Bella Bucy did her best to keep the Hawks' offense in the game til the bitter end, allowing a single earned run (two total), three hits and a solo free pass as well as a season-high five strikeouts during her complete game effort.
 
Madison Pikula put a whole bunch of twos in the game two book, going 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs as Truax swiped a pair of bases to give her three on the afternoon.
 
Truax reached safely during all four of her plate appearances in the second matchup, patiently waiting out a trio of bases on balls on top of a single, scoring once.
 
Delaney Patella is beginning to be pitched more carefully by opposing pitching staffs as she terrorizes the PSAC this season, and she is taking advantage, coaxing two ball fours and singling with a score in the nightcap.
 
Tori Long had an RBI-single before coming on to pitch the final three-and-a-third innings, surrendering one earned run (two unearned) scattered over five hits plus two whiffs.
 
IUP will try to end its mini three-game slump on Friday with a doubleheader at Gannon in a pivotal PSAC matchup seeding-wise in the Western Division's race for the conference tournament.
 
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