• Game 1 Box Score
• Game 2 Box Score

BLOOMSBURG, Pa. (April 6) – In a meeting of two perennial NCAA Tournament programs, the No. 11 California University of Pennsylvania softball team earned a doubleheader sweep at Bloomsburg on Saturday afternoon, winning 2-0 in extra innings and 8-1.

With the sweep, the Vulcans improve to 19-1 overall and have won five-straight games since suffering their first loss of the season on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Huskies fall to 17-7 this season after being the preseason favorite to win the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Central.

In Game 1, freshman Alex Sagl (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Trafalgar) and Huskies senior Cait Paine, the reigning PSAC Central Pitcher of the Year, battled in a pitching duel that resulted in a scoreless tie after seven innings. Sagl (8-1) eventually earned the victory after tossing a three-hit shutout with eight strikeouts and no walks in 8.0 innings.  Paine (8-5) suffered the loss after allowing two runs (both unearned) on four hits, while registering 14 strikeouts in the complete game.

Cal U threatened to break the scoreless tie in the fifth with a two-out rally. Sophomore center fielder Shelby Heyd (Innisfil, Ontario/Nantyr Shores Secondary) lined a double and advanced to third on a single by freshman left fielder Erica Vallecorsa (Latham, N.Y./Shaker). However, Paine induced a pop-up to end the inning. The Huskies collected a two-out triple in the seventh before Sagl retired the next batter to end the threat.

In the eighth, Heyd reached base on a two-base error before scoring on a single by freshman third baseman Natalya Smarra (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox), who advanced to second on the throw. Sophomore shortstop Breanna Morris (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central) later added a two-out triple, 2-0. Sagl then retired the Huskies in order in the bottom of the inning to earn the victory.

In Game 2, junior Hope Spancake (Pine Grove, Pa./Pine Grove) improved to 8-0 this season after allowing one run (earned) on five hits with nine strikeouts in 7.0 innings. Huskies starter Mandi Black (2-1) was saddled with the loss after being roughed up for eight runs (all earned) on eight hits and five walks in 4.1 innings.

The Vulcans took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by freshman first baseman Lindsay Reicoff (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley). Cal U added a run in the third on an RBI single by Morris before Bloomsburg countered with a solo homer in the bottom of the inning, 2-1.

Smarra belted a solo homer in the fourth, her fifth of the year, in the fourth before the Vulcans sealed the victory with five runs in the fifth inning. Junior second baseman Shelby Lia (Whitby, Ontario/Donald A. Wilson) opened the fifth with a solo homer before junior catcher Natalie Wideman (Mississauga, Ontario/Streetsville Secondary) later drew a bases-loaded walk. Cal U added another run on a wild pitch before Heyd lined a two-run single, 8-1.

Lia paced the offense in the nightcap, finishing 3-for-5 with a solo homer and three runs scored. Smarra collected a pair of hits and Heyd tallied two RBI in the victory.

The Vulcans return to PSAC West play on Tuesday, April 9, when they travel to face Slippery Rock in a doubleheader at 2:30 p.m.