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

CALIFORNIA (April 18) – The No. 22 Vulcans earned a doubleheader sweep over Gannon at Lilley Field on Friday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play, winning 6-4 and 9-1. Both teams participated in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) StrikeOut Cancer event.

With the sweep, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team improves to 23-4 overall and extends its winning streak to 19 games. The Vulcans also now hold a 16-0 mark in divisional play with six doubleheaders remaining in the regular season. Meanwhile, the Lady Knights fall to 14-16 this season behind a 7-9 record in league action.

In Game 1, the Vulcans trailed 4-2 before scoring four runs in the bottom of the fifth to reclaim the lead. Junior shortstop Breanna Morris (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central) finished 3-for-3 with a pair of RBI doubles and scored twice, while senior right fielder Stephani Ellis (Vancouver, British Columbia/Prince of Wales Secondary) went 2-for-3 with a three-run homer.

Cal U took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first behind a pair of hits and a throwing error. After a leadoff single by senior catcher Natalie Wideman (Mississauga, Ontario/Streetsville Secondary), Morris lined a two-out RBI double to left center before scoring on a throwing error. The Lady Knights answered with a pair of unearned runs in the second before taking a 4-2 lead in the fourth on a two-run homer by shortstop Kirstie Cortazzo.

With two outs in the fifth, Morris delivered an RBI double down the left-field line before Ellis followed with a three-run homer, her fifth of the year.

Sophomore Alex Sagl (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Trafalgar) won her 11th-consecutive decision to improve to 14-2 overall. She allowed four runs (two earned) and scattered nine hits over 7.0 innings (116 pitches) while recording seven strikeouts. Gannon sophomore Alison Benz (3-7) suffered the loss after yielding six runs (five earned) on eight hits in 6.0 innings (83 pitches).

In Game 2, the Vulcans earned their eighth run-rule victory in PSAC West play this season. The Nos. 2-5 hitters for Cal U all collected two hits and combined to tally eight RBI. Senior second baseman Shelby Lia (Whitby, Ontario/Donald A. Wilson) finished 2-for-2 with a two-run homer, three RBI and three runs scored and Ellis added two hits and three RBI. Sophomore first baseman Lindsay Reicoff (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) collected two hits and two runs scored and Morris extended her hitting streak to eight games by tallying a pair of hits.

Cal U jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first with a two-run double by Ellis with two outs. In the second, the Vulcans scored four unearned runs after the inning started with a fielding error. With runners on second and third, Wideman lined an RBI single through the left side before Reicoff followed with a sacrifice fly. Lia then belted a two-run homer, her fifth of the year and 32nd of her career, to stretch the lead to 6-0.

The Lady Knights posted a run in the fourth before the Vulcans countered with four runs in the bottom of the inning. With runners on first and second, Lia delivered an RBI double before Morris followed with an RBI single through the left side. Cal U added its last run of the inning on a sacrifice fly by Ellis.

Freshman Kaity Davis (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson) earned a two-hit, complete-game victory to improve to 9-2 this season. She yielded one run (earned) and issued no walks over 5.0 innings (45 pitches). Gannon starter Amanda Witzlib (0-1) was saddled with the loss after allowing six runs (two earned) on seven hits in 2.0 innings (44 pitches).

Cal U returns to action tomorrow, Saturday, April 19, when it travels to play a doubleheader at Edinboro, starting at 1 p.m.