shaheen with ball
Dawson Daley
Senior Lauren Shaheen earned both wins and had 13 strikeouts at Edinboro.

Softball

Cal U downs Edinboro in twinbill

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

EDINBORO, Pa. (April 3) – The Vulcans extended their win streak to seven games on Saturday afternoon, as they swept a doubleheader with 4-1 and 13-2 victories at Edinboro in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play.

With the wins, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team improves to 18-9 overall and 9-1 in league action. Meanwhile, Edinboro falls to 12-11 this year with a 4-4 record in divisional play.

Senior Lauren Shaheen (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) earned the victory in both games against the Fighting Scots to improve to 11-3 this season. The 5-6 right-hander has now posted the win in each of her last nine outings (five starts). In two games against Edinboro, she allowed three runs (two earned) on 10 hits in 12.0 innings of work and registered 13 strikeouts.

Sophomore shortstop Jillian Russell (London, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic) continued her torrid offensive pace, finishing 5-for-8 with two doubles, one homer, six RBI and four runs. Over the last 12 games (11-1), the second-year starter is hitting an impressive .463 (19-for-41) with three doubles, eight homers, 20 RBI and 17 runs.

In Game 1, the Vulcans broke a scoreless tie in the fourth when Russell scored on a RBI single by senior centerfielder Julie Mackenzie (Mississauga, Ontario/Meadowvale). The Fighting Scots looked to even the score in the sixth when it had the bases loaded before Shaheen registered back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning. Russell then added to the lead when she opened the bottom of the sixth with a solo homer, her eight of the season.

Cal U added to its lead in the seventh with a two-out rally, as junior third baseman Danielle Easton (Hanover, Pa./South Western) lined a RBI double before scoring on a single by Russell. The Fighting Scots prevented the shutout when they scored a two-out run on an error in the bottom of the inning, 4-1.

Shaheen earned the win after allowing one run (unearned) and scattering five hits over 5.0 innings. She issued only one walk, while fanning eight. Edinboro's Beth Mullins (9-7) suffered the loss after yielding four runs (all earned) on 11 hits in 7.0 innings.

Russell, junior second baseman Merissa Daley (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair), junior right fielder Amanda Wallace (Oakmont, Pa./Penn Hills) and senior designated player Kayleigh Braim (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus) each finished with two hits. Russell also finished with two RBI and two runs in the win.

In the nightcap, Shaheen earned her second win of the day and 11th of the season, allowing two runs on five hits in 5.0 innings. Fighting Scots' starter Brittney Mackey (3-2) was saddled with the loss after being roughed up for nine runs (seven earned) on eight hits and two walks in 2.2 innings.

The Vulcans scored five runs on three hits and one error in the take a quick 5-0 lead in top of the first. Daley started the game with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt before scoring on a RBI double by Russell. Cal U increased its run to 3-0 on an error and sacrifice fly before sophomore left fielder Kristen McKenzie (Senneville, Quebec/St. Thomas) and senior first baseman Julia Mueller (Bairdford, Pa./Deer Lakes) followed with two-out RBI singles.

After the first two batters for Edinboro reached base to start the game, Shaheen entered the game in relief and worked out of a bases-loaded situation without allowing a run after getting a double play and strikeout to end the inning. The Fighting Scots scored their first run of the game when centerfielder Kari Falk started the second inning with a solo homer.

The Vulcans added to their lead in the third after plating four runs on five hits in the third. Easton lined a RBI single through the left side before Russell collected a two-run double. Wallace later posted a two-out, bases-loaded RBI single that scored Russell.

Russell drove in her fourth RBI of the game in the fourth when she plated Mueller from second on a single. In the top of the fifth inning, freshman outfielder Jami Otter (Whitby, Ontario/Anderson C.V.I.) tallied a RBI single and sophomore Laurel Marshalek (Scenery Hill, Pa./Bentworth) posted a two-run double. Edinboro then scored its final run on a two-out single in the bottom of the fifth before the run-rule game was finished.

Russell anchored the offense, finishing 3-for-5 with two doubles, four RBI and two runs. Easton and Mueller also posted multi-hit games, while Wallace and Marshalek each finished with two RBI.

The Vulcans return to the diamond on Wednesday, April 7, when they travel to face No. 13 IUP for a doubleheader, starting at 2:30 p.m.
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