• Game 1 Box Score
• Game 2 Box Score

CALIFORNIA (April 20) – In a meeting of two regionally-ranked teams, the No. 8 California University of Pennsylvania softball team earned a doubleheader split with West Chester at Lilley Field on Saturday afternoon, winning 2-0 before falling 4-1.

With the split, the Vulcans move to 26-2 this season after having their winning streak snapped at 12 games. Earlier this week, Cal U was ranked first in the initial Atlantic Regional rankings and West Chester was tabbed fifth. Meanwhile, the Golden Rams stand at 27-16 overall after entering play on a four-game losing streak.

In Game 1, freshman Alex Sagl (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Trafalgar) tossed her fifth complete-game shutout of the season to improve to 12-1. She scattered four hits and issued one walk over 7.0 innings (100 pitches), while registering nine strikeouts. West Chester senior Devon Utterback (14-7) suffered the loss after allowing two runs (both earned) on five hits and seven walks in 6.0 innings (125 pitches).

The Vulcans took a 1-0 lead in the first on a solo homer by freshman first baseman Lindsay Reicoff (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley), her 11th of the season. Cal U added an insurance run in the fourth after collecting two singles and two walks. Junior catcher Natalie Wideman (Mississauga, Ontario/Streetsville Secondary) reached on a single through the middle and advanced to second after freshman third baseman Natalya Smarra (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) drew a walk. Following a flyout, junior second baseman Shelby Lia (Whitby, Ontario/Donald A. Wilson) delivered a two-out, RBI single to right-center field.

In the top of the fifth, the Golden Rams had runners on first and second with no outs before Sagl recorded three-straight strikeouts. West Chester again had two runners on base in the seventh before Sagl preserved the shutout after inducing back-to-back fly-outs.

Five different players collected a hit for the Vulcans with Reicoff posting the only extra-base hit.

In the nightcap, freshman Haley Bashada (Belle Vernon, Pa./Belle Vernon) was saddled with the loss after allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits and two walks in 7.0 innings (94 pitches). Golden Rams junior Kim Murl earned the complete-game victory, yielding one run (earned) on eight hits in 7.0 innings (66 pitches).

West Chester took advantage of a fielding error in the third, scoring on a two-out RBI single through the middle. The Vulcans threatened with a runner on third base in the third before the Golden Rams scored four runs in the top of the fourth after six-straight batters reached base. Sophomore shortstop Breanna Morris (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central) opened the bottom of the inning with a single and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and single by Sagl. Murl then retired the next two batters on ground-outs to keep Cal U off the scoreboard.

In the bottom of the seventh, Smara belted a solo homer with one out to trim the deficit to 4-1. Freshman left fielder Erica Vallecorsa (Latham, N.Y./Shaker) then reached on a two-base fielding error and advanced to third on a single by Lia. However, Murl retired the next two batters in order to seal the victory.

Smarra finished 2-for-3 after posting her sixth homer of the season and Sagl collected a pair of hits.

The Vulcans return to PSAC West action on Tuesday, April 23, when they travel to face Mercyhurst in a doubleheader at Erie, Pa., starting at 2:30 p.m.