•
Game 1 Box Score
•
Game 2 Box Score
ERIE (March 31) – Senior
Lauren Shaheen (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) earned a pair of wins on Wednesday afternoon, as the Vulcans posted 3-1 and 4-1 victories over Mercyhurst to claim a sweep in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play.
With the wins, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team improves to 14-9 overall with a 5-1 record in divisional action. The Vulcans have now won 11 of their last 13 games since opening the season 3-7. Meanwhile, the Lakers drop to 13-15 this season with a 0-2 league mark.
Shaheen threw a complete-game in Game 1, allowing one run (unearned) and scattering five hits over 7.0 innings. She issued one walk and posted seven strikeouts. Mercyhurst's Amanda Norman suffered the loss after allowing three runs (one earned) on three hits in 7.0 innings.
The Lakers took the first lead on a two-out single in the bottom of the second before the Vulcans answered with three runs in the fourth. With the bases loaded, sophomore right fielder
Kristen McKenzie (Senneville, Quebec/St. Thomas) lined a RBI single to tie the game. After the go-ahead run scored on a passed ball, McKenzie scored the final run of the game when freshman center fielder
Melissa Lupinacci (Irwin, Pa./Hempfield) drew a bases-loaded walk, 3-1.
The two teams combined for only eight hits and neither squad managed an extra-base hit in the first game.
Shaheen improved to 8-3 this season after throwing 3.0 innings of one-hit, scoreless relief in the nightcap. Junior starter
Maria Greco (Pickering, Ontario/Notre Dame Catholic) re-entered the game in the sixth to earn the save, finishing with one run allowed on two hits in 4.0 innings.
Norman was also saddled with the loss, yielding four runs (two earned) on eight hits in her second complete-game effort of the day.
Easton and McKenzie each posted two hits for the Vulcans in Game 2.
In the nightcap, Mercyhurst again took the first lead after scoring on a grounder in the third. Cal U evened the score in the fourth when junior right fielder
Amanda Wallace (Oakmont, Pa./Penn Hills) scored on an error by the Laker shortstop.
The Vulcans took a 3-1 lead after plating a pair of runs in the fourth. Lupinacci opened the inning with a single and advanced to third on a single by Easton before scoring on a groundout by sophomore shortstop
Jillian Russell (London, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic). Easton later scored on a two-out error by the Mercyhurst third baseman.
Easton added an insurance run for Cal U in the sixth when she line a two-out RBI double that scored McKenzie, who started the frame with a single.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Lakers had the bases loaded with one out before Greco ended the inning with a strikeout and groundout.
The Vulcans return to action on Friday, April 2, when they host Gannon for a PSAC West doubleheader. First pitch at Lilly Field is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
