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Game 1 Box Score
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Game 2 Box Score
CALIFORNIA (April 2) – Sophomore shortstop
Jillian Russell (London, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic) hit a pair of homers on Saturday afternoon at Lilly Field, as the California University of Pennsylvania softball team swept a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West doubleheader against Gannon, winning 8-3 and 8-0.
The Vulcans maintained their lead in the PSAC West standings, as they improved to 16-9 overall and 7-1 in league play. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights drop to 12-15 this year with a 0-8 divisional mark.
Russell belted a two-run homer in each game of the twinbill and now leads the team with seven longballs this season. In the doubleheader, senior centerfielder
Julie Mackenzie (Mississauga, Ontario/Meadowvale) went 3-for-4 with a double, three RBI and two runs, while senior first baseman
Julia Mueller (Bairdford, Pa./Deer Lakes) was 3-for-5 with one RBI and one run. Russell, sophomore catcher
Alyson Johnson (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central) and sophomore left fielder
Kristen McKenzie (Senneville, Quebec/St. Thomas) each finished with four hits
In Game 1, senior
Lauren Shaheen (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) earned a complete-game victory after allowing three runs (one earned) on three hits with no walks and nine strikeouts.a
The Vulcans took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second on three hits and one error. With runners on first and second, Mueller lined a RBI single through the middle and sophomore designated player
Laurel Marshalek (Scenery Hill, Pa./Bentworth) followed with a RBI single. Cal U added its final run of the inning on a RBI groundout.
Mackenzie (Mississauga, Ontario/Meadowvale) added to the lead in the third with a two-out RBI double, scoring Johnson. In the fourth inning, Cal U took a 6-0 lead on a two-run double by junior right fielder
Amanda Wallace (Oakmont, Pa./Penn Hills).
Gannon cut the deficit in half, 6-3, in the top of the sixth with three runs on three hits and three errors. First baseman Tiffany Joyce singled and scored on the same play after two errors by the Vulcans to give the Golden Knights their first run. Gannon plated its final two runs of the inning on a single and throwing error.
The Vulcans answered in the bottom of the inning when Russell hit a two-out, two-run homer, 8-3.
In the nightcap, Russell and Johnson each collected three hits with Russell scoring three times and Johnson driving in three runs.
Junior right-hander
Maria Greco (Pickering, Ontario/Notre Dame Catholic) threw her second complete-game shutout of the season, scattering only two hits and issuing three walks in 6.0 innings, while fanning 11.
Cal U broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third with a solo homer by Russell. The Vulcans added a pair of runs in the fifth to increase its lead to 3-0 on RBI singles by Mackenzie and McKenzie. Cal U then forced the run-rule victory after scoring five runs on six hits in the bottom of the sixth.
The Vulcans continue PSAC West play tomorrow, Saturday, April 3, when they travel to face Edinboro in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
