• Game 1 Box Score
• Game 2 Box Score

CALIFORNIA (March 29) – Junior Jillian Russell (London, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic) belted three homers on Tuesday afternoon and classmate Alyson Johnson (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central) hit a walk-off solo homer in extra innings, as the California University of Pennsylvania softball team opened Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play with a doubleheader sweep of Mercyhurst, winning 10-4 and 6-5 at Lilly Field.

With the sweep, the Vulcans improve to 17-7 overall with a 2-0 mark in league play. Cal U has now won all nine meetings against Mercyhurst since the Lakers joined the PSAC in 2009. Meanwhile, Mercyhurst falls to 15-13 this season and 1-5 in divisional action.

In Game 1, Russell finished with two homers and four RBI to help Cal U claim a 10-4 victory. Freshman starter Hope Spancake (Pine Grove, Pa./Pine Grove) improved to 8-2 this season after allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and six walks in 6.1 innings (126 pitches).

After the Lakers were held scoreless in the top of the first, the Vulcans jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the bottom of the inning on six hits, two walks and two errors. Freshman second baseman Shelby Lia (Whitby, Ontario/Donald A. Wilson) led off the game with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt before Russell followed with a two-run homer on a 2-0 count. Junior left fielder Kristen McKenzie (Senneville, Quebec/St. Thomas), senior center fielder Merissa Daley (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair) and senior third baseman Danielle Easton (Hanover, Pa./South Western) then each collected back-to-back-to-back RBI singles to increase the lead to 5-0. A pair of Mercyhurst errors later added to the lead before the final run of the inning came on a fielder's choice by Russell.

In the third, Mercyhurst cut into the lead with a three-run homer by shortstop Julie Harmon before Cal U answered in the bottom of the inning with a solo homer by Russell, 9-3. The Vulcans increased their lead to 9-4 in the fourth on a two-out RBI single by Easton.

The Lakers later had runners on first and second in the seventh before first baseman Courtney Smith lined a two-run double to trim the deficit to 10-4. Mercyhurst then appeared to add another run on a ground out to Russell before Cal U recorded the final out of the game at third before the run scored.

Russell was one of three players to collect a multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-4 with four RBI and two runs. Easton and McKenzie each tallied two hits with Easton recording two RBI and McKenzie scoring two runs.

Mercyhurst starter Megan Smith (1-1) suffered the loss after allowing four runs (all earned) while facing just five batters.

In the nightcap, Cal U evened the score at 5-5 in the bottom of the seventh before Johnson hit the walk-off homer on a 2-2 count. Freshman Kaitlyn Schilling (Morrisville, Pa./Pennsbury) tossed her third complete game of the season (6-2), yielding five runs (all earned) on eight hits with four strikeouts in 8.0 innings (104 pitches).

Mercyhurst scored a run in both the second and fourth innings before Russell cut the deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth with her seventh homer of the season. The Vulcans then took their first lead of the game by scoring three runs on four hits and two walks in the sixth, 4-2. Freshman catcher Natalie Wideman (Mississauga, Ontario/Streetsville Secondary) started the inning with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Russell then drew a walk and stole second before senior first baseman Sarah Spiering (Upper Burrell, Pa./Burrell) lined a two-run single through the middle. After a double by Johnson, McKenzie plated a run with a RBI single down the left-field line.

The Lakers responded by scoring three runs in the top of the seventh to reclaim the lead at 5-4. In the bottom of the inning, Lia tied the game with a solo homer (fifth of the season) on the seventh pitch of the at-bat.

Schilling then retired Mercyhurst in order in the eighth to keep the game tied at 5-5. Johnson, who reentered after leaving the game in the top of the seventh for a defensive replacement, then belted a 2-2 pitch over the right-centerfield wall for a walk-off solo homer (fourth of the season).

Johnson finished the nightcap, going 3-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored. Wideman collected a pair of hits and Russell scored two runs against Mercyhurst.

Lakers' reliever Amanda Norman (7-4) suffered the loss after allowing two runs (both earned) on three hits in 2.0 innings of work.

Cal U continues divisional play tomorrow, Wednesday, March 30, when it hosts Slippery Rock at 2:30 p.m. Live stats of the game will be available by clicking here.