• Game 1 Box Score
• Game 2 Box Score

CALIFORNIA (March 27) – The No. 15 Vulcans earned a doubleheader sweep over Slippery Rock University on Friday at Lilly Field in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play, claiming victories in contrasting styles, 2-1 and 10-1.

With the sweep, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team improves to 20-2 overall and 4-0 in league play. Meanwhile, Slippery Rock falls to 13-11 overall and 2-2 in divisional action.

In the doubleheader, freshman shortstop Jillian Russell (London, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic) led the offense by going 5-for-6 with one double, one homer, four RBI and three runs scored. Sophomores Amanda Wallace (Oakmont, Pa./Penn Hills) and Danielle Easton (Hanover, Pa./South Western) each posted a pair of RBI in the two games, while Wallace also belted a homer.

With the score tied at 1-1 in the seventh and the bases loaded, junior second baseman Julie Mackenzie (Mississauga, Ontario/Meadowvale) dropped a game-winning single behind third base that scored pinch hitter Katie Burke (Kitchener, Ontario/St. Louis). Burke started the inning with a pinch-hit single before moving to second a bunt single by sophomore center fielder Merissa Daley (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair). Junior left fielder Kayleigh Braim (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus) followed with an infield single to load the bases for Mackenzie, who delivered the game-winning hit.

Sophomore Maria Greco (Pickering, Ontario/Notre Dame Catholic) improved to 7-1 on the season after allowing one run in 5.1 innings. She scattered three hits and issued two walks, while striking out seven. Junior Lauren Shaheen (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) relieved Greco in the sixth and worked 1.2 innings before Greco reentered the game and registered the final out in the top of the seventh.

Braim went 3-for-4, while Russell collected a pair of hits in the narrow 2-1 victory.

In the nightcap, Cal U jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first after back-to-back homers by Russell and Wallace. After taking a 1-0 lead on a single by senior third baseman Heather Bihler (Eighty Four, Pa./Trinity), Russell expanded the lead to 4-0 with a three-run homer (third of the season) to centerfield. Wallace then followed with a solo homer (third of the season) to leftfield.

The Vulcans added a pair of runs in the second to take a 7-0 lead before plating three runs in the fourth.

Junior Sonia Petrosoniak (Mississauga, Ontario/Clarkson) earned her seventh win of the year, working 3.0 innings. Shaheen and senior Allison Hasbrouck (Corry, Pa./Corry) combined to work the final 2.0 innings.

In the 10-1 victory, Russell posted a 3-for-3 performance with one double, one homer, four RBI and three runs scored. Easton also went 3-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored.

Cal U returns to the diamond tomorrow, Saturday, March 28, when it faces Indiana University of Pennsylvania, who now plays in the PSAC Central – a newly created division due to the expansion of the conference. The games are slated for a 12 p.m. start.