• Game 1 Box Score
• Game 2 Box Score
• Photo Gallery

CALIFORNIA (April 3) – Playing its first games in two-plus weeks, the No. 11 California University of Pennsylvania softball team opened Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play with a split against Mercyhurst on Wednesday afternoon at Lilley Field, falling 4-3 before posting a 13-3 victory.

With the split, the Vulcans move to 15-1 overall and 1-1 in conference action after entering play as the last undefeated team in NCAA Division II this season. Meanwhile, the Lakers stand at 9-15 this season with a 1-3 mark in league play after being the preseason favorite in the PSAC West.

In Game 2, Cal U scored a season-high 13 runs behind four homers, including three in the second inning, while posting its fourth run-rule victory of the season. Freshman first baseman Lindsay Reicoff (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) belted a pair of homers and collected three RBI, while freshman third baseman Natalya Smarra (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) went 2-for-4 with a homer, four RBI and two runs scored. Junior catcher Natalie Wideman (Mississauga, Ontario/Streetsville Secondary) tallied a pair of singles and scored three times and junior second baseman Shelby Lia (Whitby, Ontario/Donald A. Wilson) finished 3-for-4 with a solo homer, two RBI and two runs scored.

The Lakers took 1-0 lead in the top of the second before the Vulcans answered with five runs in the bottom of the inning. Wideman advanced two bases on a bunt single by sophomore center fielder Shelby Heyd (Innisfil, Ontario/Nantyr Shores Secondary) and a throwing error on the play allowed Wideman to score and Heyd to move into scoring position. After a ground-out, Smarra and Lia posted back-to-back homers before Reicoff added a solo homer later in the inning, 5-1.

Mercyhurst again scored a run in the third before Cal U countered with six runs with two outs. With runners on second and third, Smarra collected a two-run double before scoring on a RBI single by Lia. Sophomore shortstop Breanna Morris (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central) followed with an RBI double before Reicoff delivered her second homer of the game, fifth of the season. The Vulcans added a pair of runs in the fourth before the Lakers added a run in the fifth.

Junior Hope Spancake (Pine Grove, Pa./Pine Grove) improved to 6-0 this season after yielding two runs (both earned) on five hits in 4.1 innings (51 innings). Lakers starter Megan Hopton (6-7) was saddled with the loss after allowing four runs (all earned) on four hits in 1.1 innings.

In Game 1, Cal U held a 2-1 lead entering the seventh after solo homers by freshman Alex Sagl (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Trafalgar) and Morris. The Lakers then tied the game in the seventh before taking the lead later in the inning with back-to-back, two-out RBI singles. In the bottom of the inning, junior Stephani Ellis (Vancouver, British Columbia/Prince of Wales Secondary) lined an RBI single with runners on the corners before the game ended when Morris lined into a double play.

Sagl (6-1) suffered the loss after allowing a season-high four runs (all earned) on eight hits, while registering eight strikeouts in 6.2 innings (80 pitches). Hopton earned the complete-game victory, yielding three runs (all earned) on six hits and three walks in 7.0 innings (130 pitches).

The Vulcans continue divisional play when they host Edinboro on Friday, April 5, at 2:30 p.m.