• Game 1 Box Score
• Game 2 Box Score

ERIE, Pa. (April 8) – The No. 24 Vulcans finished with a split of their doubleheader at Mercyhurst in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action on Friday afternoon, winning 10-0 in five innings before losing 9-1 in the nightcap.

With the split, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team moves to 22-8 overall with a 7-1 mark in league play. The Vulcans now hold a two-game lead in the division standings after finishing the first half of league play. Meanwhile, the Lakers now are 19-15 this season and 4-4 in divisional action.

In Game 1, freshman Hope Spancake (Pine Grove, Pa./Pine Grove) scattered four hits and one walk in 5.0 innings to improve to 10-2 this year. Junior left fielder Kristen McKenzie (Senneville, Quebec/St. Thomas) and freshman catcher Natalie Wideman (Mississauga, Ontario/Streetsville Secondary) each collected two hits, while three Vulcans registered three RBI in the victory.

The first two Cal U batters of the game reached safely before junior right fielder Alyson Johnson (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central) lined a RBI single and McKenzie hit a two-run, bases-loaded single. The Vulcans then claimed a 10-0 lead in the third after scoring seven runs on six hits and one walk. With two runners in scoring position, senior center fielder Merissa Daley (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair) collected a RBI single and senior third baseman Danielle Easton (Hanover, Pa./South Western) lined a two-run single to stretch the lead to 6-0. After the second out of the inning, freshman second baseman Shelby Lia (Whitby, Ontario/Donald A. Wilson) tallied a RBI single and later scored on a three-run homer by junior shortstop Jillian Russell (London, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic), her 10th of the season.

Lakers' starter Amanda Norman (9-5) suffered the loss after allowing nine runs (all earned) on eight hits and two walks in 2.2 innings.

In the nightcap, freshman designated player Stephani Ellis (Vancouver, British Columbia/Prince of Wales Secondary) finished with two of the five hits for the Vulcans. Freshman pitcher Kaitlyn Schilling (Morrisville, Pa./Pennsbury) dropped to 7-3 on the year after yielding four runs (one earned) on two hits in 3.1 innings of work.

With the game still scoreless, Mercyhurst scored eight runs in the bottom of the fourth on six hits. The Lakers had two runners in scoring position with one out before Cal U committed errors on back-to-back plays that eventually lead to seven unearned runs, including a three-run homer by second baseman Emily Redig.

Cal U managed to score its only run of the game a two-out rally in the fifth. Easton reached on a two-out double and advanced to third on a single by Ellis. Lia then followed with a RBI single and Wideman walked to load the bases before Mercyhurst's Megan Hopton inducted a pop-up to end the rally. The Lakers then countered with a two-out run of their own in the bottom of the inning.

Hopton (7-4) earned the complete-game victory, allowing one run (earned) on five hits in 5.0 innings.

Cal U returns to action tomorrow, Saturday, April 9, when it hosts a doubleheader against Kutztown at Lilly Field. The twinbill is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start.