GROVE CITY — Scoring a run or two in the early innings would be a nice start on most days.

But Slippery Rock's softball team didn't stop there.

The Rockets plated seven runs on 10 hits over the first two innings and coasted to a 10-3 win over Grove City Tuesday afternoon at Memorial Park.

Grove City starting pitcher Michaela Ferguson almost got out of the first inning without giving up a run. But with a runner at third base and two outs, she surrendered a run-scoring single to Alexis Vogan and the Rockets' bats overwhelmed the sophomore.

Three more singles followed, with JoElla Neal and Macy McCall both driving in a run. Hope Schnell scored on a wild pitch and Slippery Rock was up 4-0 before Grove City picked up its bats.

“Our last game (a 2-1 loss to Corry last Thursday), we only had six hits,” said Slippery Rock coach Dan Hindman. “We didn't know who Grove City was going to start today, either Ferguson or (Chloe) Saylor, but we were just ready to hit. The way we started out today, it was a pleasure to see.”

But the Rockets were just getting started.

The first five batters in the top of the second inning all reached on a hit. Cheyenne Hindman's was a double while Hannah Wilson knocked in a run with a single and Vogan drove in two more with a double.

“We communicate, telling each other where the pitches are being thrown,” said Vogan of her teammates. “That helps.”

The early 7-0 deficit prompted Grove City coach Dave Gatewood to pull Ferguson in favor of Saylor.

“We were planning on at least being even after one inning,” he said. “Slippery Rock hit the ball very well early on and we just couldn't come back from it. We weren't ready to play today, that's the bottom line.”

Saylor settled things down, allowing one run in the third inning before working three straight scoreless frames. It was the freshman's first varsity outing in the circle, but Gatewood was not surprised.

“That's exactly the job I expected of her,” he said. “She is a superb pitcher and a gifted athlete.”

Meanwhile, the Eagles could not generate enough offense against Hindman to get back in the game. Katie Maine hit a solo home run in the bottom of the second and Hannah Bumbaco tripled and scored on a passed ball in the fifth, but the Rockets still held an 8-2 lead.

Slippery Rock (6-2) saw its offense come alive again in the seventh against Saylor.

Neal's double was the fourth consecutive hit of the inning and it drove in Hindman and Morgan Murdock.

“Early in the game, we were hitting a lot of balls in between people, then we went flat,” said Dan Hindman. “It was good to get a couple more runs at the end.”

Grove City (4-3) plated one run in the bottom of the seventh inning when Saylor's single scored Lauren Wentz. But on the same play, Jordan Malczak was thrown out at the plate by Rocket right-fielder Alyssa Schaeffer.

Cheyenne Hindman earned the win with eight strikeouts while walking five. She allowed the three runs on seven hits.

Slippery Rock 431 000 2 — 10 18 0

Grove City 010 010 1 — 3 7 0

W: Cheyenne Hindman 7 IP (8K, 5BB). L: Michaela Ferguson 1+ IP (0K, 0BB).

Slippery Rock (6-2): Alyssa Schaeffer 2-1B RBI, Hannah Wilson 2-1B 2R RBI, Cheyenne Hindman 1B 2B 2R, Alexis Vogan 3-1B 3RBI, Hope Schnell 3-1B R, JoElla Neal 1B 2B R 3RBI, Macy McCall 2-1B RBI, Ayslyn Duffy 2B R, Brynn Horner 1B R, Morgan Murdock 2R

Grove City (4-3): Hannah Bumbaco 3B R, Lauren Wentz R, Jordan Malczak 2-1B 2B, Chloe Saylor 1B RBI, Katie Maine HR, Addie Reynolds 1B

Thursday: Slippery Rock at Conneaut Area; General McLane at Grove City