SLIPPERY ROCK — Stephanie Kotomski and Kalene Ireland both have strong arms.

The Slippery Rock High softball duo showed them off against Grove City Thursday afternoon.

Kotomski scattered six singles in the circle and Ireland, a catcher, picked off three baserunners with snap throws to help the Rockets to a 6-2 region win over the Eagles.

“Stephanie is an excellent pitcher,” said Slippery Rock coach Elma Anschutz. “She's going off to pitch in college next year (to Waynesburg). She does a good job and the girls stayed together and finished well.”

Ireland helped Kotomski out of a couple tight spots.

Ireland picked off Grove City leadoff hitter Nicole King wandering too far off first base in the top of the first inning after King beat out an infield single.

With Grove City (3-7, 1-2) cutting into Slippery Rock's 6-0 lead with two runs plated already and two runners on in the top of the third, Ireland gunned down Kara Franklin retreating back to third to put an end to the frame.

Ireland caught Franklin again, this time tardy getting back to first in the fifth.

“Kalene, she's awesome,” Anschutz said. “She's just excellent in her throwing. She's accurate and has a strong arm and I can always count on her getting it there. She's got the gun.”

The pickoffs killed any momentum the Eagles managed to muster after a slow start.

Starting pitcher Patricka Berkman struggled, giving up six runs in just 1 1/3 innings of work.

Relief pitcher Cassie Feather, a freshman, came in and shut the door on Slippery Rock, however.

“She was pitching well,” said Grove City coach Katie Calano. “After that we kind of cleaned up our act.

“We had a lot of men on base,” Calano said. “But, yeah, their catcher is good. That killed us.”

Slippery Rock's fast start at the plate killed the Eagles, too.

The first four batters the Rockets sent to the plate in the game scored.

Slippery Rock added two more runs in the second to chase Berkman.

Leadoff hitter Jordan McCauley, who has three home runs this season, had a single and a double and scored two runs. Katie Myers, the No. 2 hitter, had a double, two singles and a pair of RBI.

“We've been working very hard on our defense and offense,” Anschutz said. “They have really been putting the extra time in, so it was nice to see it all come together.”

Franklin's two-run single in the third inning provided Grove City's only run.

Suddenly the Rockets (2-5, 2-1) are in the thick of the District 10 Region 5 race.

“I'm very pleased with how this team has grown,” Anschutz said. “I've seen them grow every day. We have to keep getting better.”

Grove City 002 000 0 — 2 6 1Slippery Rock 420 000 x — 6 9 4W: Stephanie Kotomski 7IP (2K, 0BB).

L: Patricka Berkman 1.1IP (0K, 1BB).

Grove City (3-7, 1-2): Nicole King 1B, Kara Franklin 1B 2-RBI, Aubrey McCoy 1B, Kristi Sestak 1B, Lauren Bovard 1B, Cassie Feather 1B

Slippery Rock (2-5, 2-1) Jordan McCauley 1B 2B, Katie Myers 2-1B 2B 2-RBI, Marie Bosch 2B RBI, Kalene Ireland 1B RBI, Erica Umstead 1B, Courtney Bell 1B RBI

Tuesday: Slippery Rock at Hickory; Jamestown at Grove City