• Game 1 Box Score
• Game 2 Box Score

ERIE, Pa. (April 7) – The No. 24 California University of Pennsylvania softball team rallied for a 3-2 win in Game 1 on Tuesday before completing a doubleheader sweep at Gannon with a 13-6 victory in the nightcap in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play.

With the victories, the Vulcans improve to 21-7 overall and extend their win streak to nine games. Cal U also remains undefeated in league action at 6-0 this season. Meanwhile, Gannon falls to 13-13 overall with a 2-6 mark in divisional play.

In Game 1, freshman Hope Spancake (Pine Grove, Pa./Pine Grove) improved her record to 9-2 after tossing her fifth complete game of the year. She allowed two runs (both earned) on four hits and two walks in 7.0 innings (107 pitches), while registering five strikeouts against the Golden Knights.

Gannon took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when catcher Katie Dunn collected a two-out RBI single that scored center fielder Jaleesa Sledge from second. The Golden Knights expanded their lead in the third when Sledge led off the inning with her third homer of the season, 2-0.

In the fourth, Cal U answered with a run to trim the deficit to 2-1. After the first two batters reached safely on a hit by pitch and walk, junior left fielder Kristen McKenzie (Senneville, Quebec/St. Thomas) lined a RBI double to score classmate Alyson Johnson (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central) from second.

The Vulcans then claimed a 3-2 lead in the fifth on a two-run homer by junior shortstop Jillian Russell (London, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic), who leads the team and ranks fourth in PSAC with nine homers this season (28 career). The Golden Knights had a runner reach base safely in both the fifth and sixth innings, but Spancake prevented the runner from moving into scoring position and then retired the side in order in the seventh.

Senior third baseman Danielle Easton (Hanover, Pa./South Western) collected a pair of singles in the win, while Russell hit a homer for the fifth time in the last six games.

Golden Knights' starter Megan Dragon (9-7) was saddled with the loss after allowing three runs (all earned) on seven hits in 7.0 innings (114 pitches).

In the nightcap, freshman catcher Natalie Wideman (Mississauga, Ontario/Streetsville Secondary) was one of five Vulcans to post a multi-hit game, finishing 3-for-6 with one double, four RBI and one run. Johnson belted her fifth homer of the year and collected three RBI, while freshman second baseman Shelby Lia (Whitby, Ontario/Donald A. Wilson) scored three runs and tallied two RBI.

Cal U took a 1-0 lead in the first on a sacrifice fly before adding three runs in the second on three-straight RBI singles by Lia, Wideman and Russell. The Golden Knights countered with four runs in the bottom of the second on a grand slam by Sledge. The two teams then traded runs in the third before the Vulcans reclaimed the lead in the fourth on a RBI single by Johnson, 6-5.

Cal U added to its lead and seized control of the game by scoring six runs on three hits and one error in the top of the sixth, 12-5. After the Vulcans scored their first two runs of the inning on fielder's choices, Wideman collected a two-run double before Johnson followed with a two-run homer. The Golden Knights belted a solo homer in the bottom of the sixth before Wideman added an insurance RBI single in the seventh.

Freshman Chelsea Carlson (Stow, Ohio/Stow-Munroe Falls) earned her first career win after yielding one run (earned) on five hits in 5.0 innings of relief (87 pitches). Gannon's Erica Bartholow (4-6) suffered the loss after allowing 11 runs (nine earned) on 12 hits, eight walks and seven wild pitches.

Cal U continues its Erie road trip tomorrow, Friday, April 8, when it plays a doubleheader at Mercyhurst. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.

Note:
Tomorrow's doubleheader at Mercyhurst was originially scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. start, but was moved up due to the forecast in Erie.