• Game 1 Box Score
• Game 2 Box Score

ERIE (April 10) – Behind homers from junior second baseman Julie Mackenzie (Mississauga, Ontario/Meadowvale) and freshman shortstop Jillian Russell (London, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic) in the nightcap, the No. 17 Vulcans registered a doubleheader sweep against Mercyhurst College on Friday in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play, winning 5-2 and 5-2.

With the sweep, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team improves to 26-4 overall and 8-0 in divisional action. In its first season in the league, Mercyhurst falls to 13-18 overall and 3-7 in league play.

In Game 1, sophomore Maria Greco (Pickering, Ontario/Notre Dame Catholic) earned her 10th victory of the season after allowing two runs (both unearned) in 7.0 innings. She scattered four hits and recorded eight strikeouts in the complete game. Freshman Kristi Janoski was saddled with the loss after surrendering five runs (three earned) on nine hits and three walks.

Trailing 2-0 after two innings, the Vulcans made it a one-run game in the third with a RBI single by Russell. Cal U then claimed a 3-2 lead in the fourth before adding a pair of insurance runs in the fifth on a two-run double by junior first baseman Julia Mueller (Bairdford, Pa./Deer Lakes). In the final three innings, Greco held Mercyhurst scoreless despite the Lakers having runners on second and third base in each of the innings.

Junior left fielder Kayleigh Braim (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus) and freshman third baseman Kristen McKenzie (Senneville, Quebec/St. Thomas) both went 2-for-4 with one run scored in the opening game of the doubleheader.

In the nightcap, Cal U broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning when Braim lined a two-out RBI single before Mackenzie belted a three-run homer (third of the season), 4-0. Mercyhurst countered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning with a homer by third baseman Michelle Schmitz. Russell increased the Vulcan lead to 5-2 with a leadoff homer (fifth of the season) in the top of the seventh.

Junior Lauren Shaheen (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) tossed a complete game to improve to 9-2 this season. She yielded two runs on three hits and registered five strikeouts in 7.0 innings. Shaheen allowed only five Mercyhurst batters to reach base in the game.

Mackenzie led the offense, going 3-for-3 with three RBI, one run scored and one walk. Russell and freshman right fielder Katie Burke (Kitchener, Ontario/St. Louis) both added a pair of hits.

Cal U returns to action tomorrow, Saturday, April 11, with a PSAC Crossover doubleheader against East Stroudsburg University. The twinbill at Lilly Field is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start.