• Game 1 Box Score
• Game 2 Box Score

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. (April 19) – Junior first baseman Julia Mueller (Bairdford, Pa./Deer Lakes) and freshman shortstop Jillian Russell (London, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic) belted homers for the second-straight day, as the No. 22 Vulcans split a doubleheader with Slippery Rock University on Sunday in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play, winning 7-3 before losing the nightcap by a 4-2 count.

With the split, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team moves to 32-6 overall and 13-1 in league action. With two games left in the season, the Vulcans have already won the PSAC Western Division regular-season title and will serve as host for one of the three PSAC Tournament first-round flights later this week. Meanwhile, The Rock stands at 19-21 overall and 7-9 in divisional play.

In Game 1, Slippery Rock took a 2-0 lead in the first before Cal U countered by scoring three runs in the second inning, 3-2. Freshman designated hitter Kristen McKenzie (Senneville, Quebec/St. Thomas) and freshman right fielder Katie Burke (Kitchener, Ontario/St. Louis) opened the inning with consecutive singles before Mueller followed with a three-run homer (third of the season).

The Rock then evened the score at 3-3 with a solo homer by catcher Jessica Kortz in the third. The Vulcans broke the tie in the fifth with back-to-back homers by freshman catcher Alyson Johnson (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central) and Russell, 6-3. Cal U added an insurance run in the sixth on a RBI double by junior left fielder Kayleigh Braim (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus).

Burke and Russell both finished the game with three hits, while Braim added a pair of hits.

Sophomore Maria Greco (Pickering, Ontario/Notre Dame Catholic) earned the complete-game victory (14-3), allowing three runs on four hits in 7.0 innings. She issued no walks and registered two strikeouts.

Freshman Shaylee Ianno (3-4) was saddled with the loss after being roughed up for seven runs (all earned) on 12 hits with two walks in 7.0 innings.

In the nightcap, Cal U rallied from an early deficit and tied the game with two runs in the top of the third, 2-2. Mueller started the inning with a single before advancing to second on a fielder's choice. Braim followed with a RBI triple before scoring on a groundout.

Slippery Rock answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third before reliever Sonia Petrosoniak (Mississauga, Ontario/Clarkson) retired 12-straight Rock batters.

Junior Lauren Shaheen (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) suffered the loss (9-3) after allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits in two-plus innings.

Sophomore Shauna Walker (9-10) recorded the win after allowing two runs on five hits in 7.0 innings.

Braim and Mueller combined to collect four of the five Vulcan hits in Game 2.

Cal U concludes its regular season tomorrow, Monday, April 20, when it faces Edinboro University for a road doubleheader. The twinbill is slated for a 3 p.m. start in Edinboro, Pa.