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CALIFORNIA (March 24) – Sophomore shortstop Jillian Russell (London, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic) belted a go-ahead homer in Game 1 and junior catcher Danielle Easton (Hanover, Pa./South Western) posted a pair of longballs in the nightcap on Wednesday afternoon, as the California University of Pennsylvania softball team swept its opening Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West doubleheader against Edinboro at Lilly Field, winning 5-4 and 10-2.

With the sweep, the Vulcans improve to 9-8 overall after having won six of their last seven games. Meanwhile, the Fighting Scots fall to 5-9 overall this season.

In Game 1, Russell and Easton each collected two hits with Russell giving Cal U the lead with her first homer of the season in the bottom of the fifth.

Junior Maria Greco (Pickering, Ontario/Notre Dame Catholic) earned the complete-game victory after allowing four unearned runs with no walks and seven strikeouts. The Fighting Scots' Beth Mullins suffered the loss after yielding five runs (three earned) on seven hits with one walk and four strikeouts in 6.0 innings.

The Vulcans took a 3-0 lead with a two-out rally in the bottom of the fourth. With two outs, Easton lined a RBI double that scored Russell from second base. Junior first baseman Amanda Wallace (Oakmont, Pa./Penn Hills) then reached base on a dropped fly that allowed Easton to score from second. The rally continued when junior second baseman Merissa Daley (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair) collected a RBI single.

Edinboro responded by claiming the lead in the fifth behind a throwing error by Russell and a three-run homer by catcher Aimee Sisson, 4-3. Cal U countered with a go-ahead rally in the bottom of the inning capped with the two-run homer by Russell. Senior left fielder Kayleigh Braim (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus) opened the inning with a single before advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt and flyout. Facing a 0-2 count, Russell lined the eventual-game-winning homer over the centerfield fence.

Working with the lead, Greco retired six of the last seven hitters to improve to 3-4 this season.

Easton headlined the Cal U offense in the nightcap by going 3-for-3 with two homers, four RBI and three runs. Braim, Daley, Wallace and senior right fielder Julie Mackenzie (Mississauga, Ontario/Meadowvale) each recorded a pair of hits, while Mackenzie and sophomore designated player Alyson Johnson (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central) scored two runs.

Senior hurler Lauren Shaheen (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) earned her team-best fourth victory of the season after throwing 3.1 innings of relief and allowing one unearned hits on four hits. Mullins also sustained in the nightcap after being roughed up for seven runs (five earned) in 1.2 innings on six hits and three walks.

The Vulcans jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first behind a solo homer by Russell and two-run longball by Easton. Daley also added a RBI double in the inning that plated Wallace from first. After Edinboro scored a run in the second, Cal U answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning with a RBI double by Johnson and two-run longball by Easton.

The two teams traded runs in the fourth before the Vulcans finished the run-rule game after scoring two runs on a throwing error by the Fighting Scots.

Cal U returns to action on Saturday, March 27, when it hosts Clarion for a PSAC West doubleheader on Bill Christy Memorial Day. The games are scheduled for a 1 p.m. start at Lilly Field.