• Game 1 Box Score
• Game 2 Box Score

EDINBORO, Pa. (April 18) – The No. 8 Vulcans belted six homers and scored a combined 27 runs on Thursday afternoon in a doubleheader sweep at Edinboro in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play, winning 9-8 and 18-0.

With the victories, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team improves to 25-1 overall with a 9-1 mark in league action. The Vulcans, who are the top team in the initial NCAA Atlantic Regional rankings, also extended their winning streak to 11 games with the sweep. Meanwhile, Edinboro falls to 6-17 this season behind a 3-5 record in divisional play.

In Game 1, the Vulcans scored the game-tying run in the fifth before scoring the game-winning run in the sixth. Cal U tied the game at 8-8 in the fifth when sophomore center fielder Shelby Heyd (Innisfil, Ontario/Nantyr Shores Secondary) opened the inning with a solo homer. In the sixth, sophomore shortstop Breanna Morris (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central) and junior Stephani Ellis (Vancouver, British Columbia/Prince of Wales Secondary) reached base safely to open the inning before both advanced on a sacrifice bunt. Morris then scored the go-ahead run on an infield single by Heyd. The Fighting Scots threatened with two runners on base in the bottom of sixth before the next two batters were retired in order, as the Vulcans preserved the lead.

Edinboro took a 1-0 lead in the first before Cal U answered in the third with a two-run single by Morris. The Fighting Scouts countered in the bottom of the inning with a three-run homer by first baseman Ashley Black, 4-2. In the fourth, Cal U reclaimed the lead at 7-4 by scoring five runs on five-straight hits with one out. Freshman third baseman Natalya Smarra (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) started the rally with a double and freshman left fielder Erica Vallecorsa (Latham, N.Y./Shaker) followed with an infield single before junior second baseman Shelby Lia (Whitby, Ontario/Donald A. Wilson) delivered an RBI single. Freshman first baseman Lindsay Reicoff (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) then added a two-run double before Morris belted a two-run homer, her eighth of the season. In the bottom of the fourth, the Fighting Scots answered with four runs on five hits to reclaim the lead, 8-7.

Freshman Alex Sagl (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Trafalgar) earned the complete-game victory and tied her career high with 12 strikeouts. She was roughed up for eight runs (all earned) on nine hits, both season highs, in 7.0 innings (111 pitches) after entering play with a 0.93 ERA. Edinboro Amanda Shields (4-10) suffered the loss after allowing nine runs (seven earned) on 13 hits in 7.0 innings (109 pitches).

Morris paced the offensive effort, going 4-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored. Lia and Vallecorsa both collected two hits and scored twice, while Heyd added two hits and two RBI.

In Game 2, the Vulcans scored a run in each of the five innings while forcing the run-rule victory. Cal U belted four homers in the win, including two in the first inning. Reicoff and Smarra combined for 11 RBI in the nightcap and seven players scored at least two runs in the win.

Lia opened the game with a solo homer and Ellis added a two-run homer later in the top of the first, while junior catcher Natalie Wideman (Mississauga, Ontario/Streetsville Secondary) and Smarra both collected RBI singles later in the inning. The Vulcans stretched the lead to 7-0 in the second with a two-out, two-run single by Sagl.

In the third, Wideman and Smarra opened the inning with back-to-back doubles before Reicoff later delivered a two-run single, 10-0. The Vulcans loaded the bases twice in the top fourth, finishing with seven runs on just two hits. With the bases loaded, Smarra collected a three-run double before Reicoff later belted a grand slam, her 10th homer of the season. Cal U added its final run of the game in the fifth on a solo homer by Heyd.

Freshman Haley Bashada (Belle Vernon, Pa./Belle Vernon) improved to 3-0 this season after tossing a three-hit, complete game shutout. She registered five strikeouts in 5.0 innings (66 pitches) and forced Edinboro to leave nine runners on base, including seven in scoring position. Fighting Scots starter Roxanne Herrington (1-6) was saddled with the loss after being roughed up for 10 runs (eight earned) on 11 hits in just 2.1 innings (61 pitches).

Reicoff finished 3-for-4 with a career-high six RBI and two runs scored and Smarra went 3-for-4 with five RBI and one run. Wideman added a pair of hits and scored three times, while Ellis finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Lia scored three times from the leadoff spot and Morris extended her hitting streak to 12 games with a single in the second inning.

The Vulcans return to action on Saturday, April 20, when they host a doubleheader against regionally-ranked West Chester at Lilley Field, starting at 1 p.m.

Note: Due to the weather forecast, Cal U cancelled its doubleheader at West Liberty tomorrow, Friday, April 19.