• Game 1 Box Score
• Game 2 Box Score

CALIFORNIA (March 24) – The No. 6 California University of Pennsylvania softball team opened Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play on Tuesday with a pair of shutouts against league-newcomer Mercyhurst College at Lilly Field, 8-0 and 2-0.

With the doubleheader sweep, the Vulcans improve to 18-2 overall and 2-0 in league play. Meanwhile, the Lakers fall to 10-11 and 0-2 in divisional action.

In Game 1, sophomore Maria Greco (Pickering, Ontario/Notre Dame Catholic) tossed her second complete-game shutout of the season. The right-hander scattered two hits over five innings and issued only one walk in 5.0 innings. Greco registered 11 strikeouts and allowed only three batters to put the ball in play.

Offensively, junior second baseman Julie Mackenzie (Mississauga, Ontario/Meadowvale) went 2-for-3 with three RBI, while freshman designated hitter Alyson Johnson (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central) added a pair of RBI.

In the opening game, the Vulcans took a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Johnson started the inning with a solo homer (seventh of the season) before junior first baseman Julia Mueller (Bairdford, Pa./Deer Lakes) added a two-out RBI single.

The score remained 2-0 until the bottom of the fifth when McKenzie belted a three-run double before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Johnson. The lead was stretched to 7-0 later in the inning when sophomore right fielder Amanda Wallace (Oakmont, Pa./Penn Hills) hit a RBI single. Cal U forced the eight-run rule later in the inning when freshman pinch hitter Kristen McKenzie (Senneville, Quebec/St. Thomas) lined a RBI single to left field.

Sophomore Amanda Norman (4-5) was saddled with the loss in Game 1, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits in 4.1 innings. She issued no walks and posted six strikeouts.

In the nightcap, the Vulcans recorded a 2-0 victory in the nightcap despite collecting only three hits. The combination of juniors Sonia Petrosoniak (Mississauga, Ontario/Clarkson) and Lauren Shaheen (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) scattered five hits to Mercyhurst and registered seven strikeouts.

Shaheen, the reigning PSAC West Pitcher of the Week, tossed four scoreless innings of relief to improve to 6-1 this season. Freshman Kristi Janoske (6-6) suffered the loss despite allowing only two runs (both earned) on three hits and four walks.

Cal U manufactured both of the game's runs in the first inning. Junior left fielder Kayleigh Braim (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus) started the inning with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt before advancing to third on a wild pitch. Johnson then drew a walk and freshman shortstop Jillian Russell (London, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic) lined a single through the middle, scoring Braim. Johnson later scored on a bases-loaded walk by sophomore catcher Danielle Easton (Hanover, Pa./South Western).

The Vulcans continue PSAC West play on Friday, March 27, when they host Slippery Rock University for a 2:30 p.m. doubleheader at Lilly Field.