• Game 1 Box Score
• Game 2 Box Score

CALIFORNIA (April 26) – Freshman Alex Sagl (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Trafalgar) earned a pair of victories and junior right fielder Stephani Ellis (Vancouver, British Columbia/Prince of Wales Secondary) tallied a combined six RBI on Friday afternoon, as the No. 7 Vulcans earned a doubleheader sweep over Slippery Rock at Lilley Field in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action, winning 11-2 and 6-3.

With the victories, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team improves to 30-2 overall behind a 13-1 mark in league play. The Vulcans have now reached the 30-win mark in four of the last five seasons and 14 times under head coach Rick Bertagnolli. Meanwhile, The Rock falls to 16-20 this season with a 6-10 record in conference action.

In Game 1, Sagl won her eighth-straight start to improve to 14-1 this season. She allowed two runs (both earned) on five hits with no walks, while posting eight strikeouts in 5.0 innings (67 pitches). Rock starter Ashley Knight (10-13) suffered the loss after being roughed up for six runs (five earned) on eight hits and three walks in 2.2 innings (80 pitches).

The Vulcans took a quick 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, scoring runs on a ground-out and error. Cal U added to its lead with four runs in the third to stretch the lead to 6-0. Sagl opened the inning with an infield single and scored on an RBI double by junior catcher Natalie Wideman (Mississauga, Ontario/Streetsville Secondary). Freshman right fielder Erica Vallecorsa (Latham, N.Y./Shaker) later delivered a two-out RBI single before junior second baseman Shelby Lia (Whitby, Ontario/Donald A. Wilson) belted a two-run homer, her 10th of the season.

Slippery Rock posted a two-run homer in the fourth before Cal U sealed the run-rule victory with five runs in the bottom of the fifth. Freshman third baseman Natalya Smarra (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) and Vallecorsa collected back-to-back singles to open the inning and both advanced on a stolen base before Smarra scored on a wild pitch. Sophomore shortstop Breanna Morris (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central) later posted an RBI single with runners on the corners before Ellis clinched the win with a three-run homer, 11-2.

Lia and Vallecorsa both collected two hits and scored twice in the victory. Wideman also posted pair of hits and Ellis finished with four RBI.

In Game 2, Sagl earned her second victory of the day after tossing 1.1 innings of scoreless relief. Freshman starter Haley Bashada (Belle Vernon, Pa./Belle Vernon) took a no-decision after allowing three runs (all unearned) on six hits in 5.2 innings (73 pitches). Slippery Rock junior Emily Lobdell (6-6) was saddled with the loss after yielding six runs (three earned) on nine hits and three walks in 6.0 innings (125 pitches).

The Vulcans took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first with an RBI double by Ellis. In the fourth, Wideman opened the inning with a double before later scoring on an infield single by Vallecorsa. Cal U added to the lead in the fifth with a two-out RBI single by sophomore center fielder Shelby Heyd (Innisfil, Ontario/Nantyr Shores Secondary). The Rock took advantage of a two-out error in the top of the sixth with a three-run double to tie the game at 3-3. The Vulcans reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the inning when Vallecorsa and freshman first baseman Lindsay Reicoff (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) both scored on a dropped fly. Ellis followed with a two-out RBI single down the left-field line, scoring Morris from second.

Ellis finished 2-for-3 with two RBI, while Morris collected two hits and scored twice. Vallecorsa also tallied a pair of hits in the victory.

Cal U concludes the regular season tomorrow, Saturday, April 27, when it travels to Erie, Pa., for a doubleheader at Gannon, starting at 1 p.m.