• Game 1 Box Score
• Game 2 Box Score

ERIE, Pa. (April 21) – The No. 22 Vulcans recorded a pair of run-rule victories on Monday afternoon at Gannon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play to extend their winning streak to 23 games, winning 12-3 and 9-0.

With the sweep, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team improves to 27-4 overall with its last loss on March 15. The Vulcans also stand at 20-0 in divisional action and extend their winning streak in PSAC West play to 35 games. Meanwhile, Gannon falls to 15-19 this season behind an 8-12 mark in league action.

In Game 1, three different players belted a homer and eight of the nine starters collected at least one hit. Junior shortstop Breanna Morris (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central), who was named PSAC West Hitter of the Week earlier in the day, finished 3-for-4 with a solo homer, two RBI and three runs scored. Sophomore third baseman Natalya Smarra (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) went 2-for-3 with a three-run homer, four RBI and two runs scored, while senior designated player Stephani Ellis (Vancouver, British Columbia/Prince of Wales Secondary) added two hits and scored three times.

Cal U scored three runs in both the second and third innings to take a 6-0 lead. In the second, the Vulcans scored on a sacrifice fly, wild pitch and a two-out RBI single by senior catcher Natalie Wideman (Mississauga, Ontario/Streetsville Secondary). The Vulcans added to the lead in the third when Smarra belted a three-run homer, her third of the year, following back-to-back singles by Morris and Ellis.

The Lady Knights countered with a run in the bottom of the third before the Vulcans answered by scoring four runs in the top of the fourth. Following a leadoff double by Wideman, sophomore first baseman Lindsay Reicoff (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) delivered an RBI single and later scored on a single by Morris. Following a double by Ellis, Cal U scored on a ground-out by Smarra and a two-out RBI double by junior center fielder Shelby Heyd (Innisfil, Ontari /Nantyr Shores Secondary).

Gannon added a run in both the fourth and fifth inning before Cal U forced the run-rule victory in the sixth with back-to-back solo homers by senior second baseman Shelby Lia (Whitby, Ontario/Donald A. Wilson) and Morris.

Sophomore Alex Sagl (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Trafalgar) won her 14th-consecutive decision and improved her record to 17-2 this season. She allowed three runs (all earned) on eight hits with no walks and seven strikeouts in 6.0 innings (89 pitches). Gannon starter Olivia Gumbita (4-5) suffered the loss after yielding six runs (five earned) on six hits and one walk in 3.0 innings (62 pitches).

In Game 2, the Vulcans scored in every inning to claim the run-rule victory in five innings. Freshman right fielder Megan Jahoda (Buchanan, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) went 3-for-3 with a two-run homer and three RBI and Wideman also collected three hits from the leadoff spot. Reicoff and Heyd both added a pair of hits and scored twice in the win.

Cal U took a 2-0 lead after scoring runs in both the first and second on two-out RBI singles by Ellis and Wideman. In the third, the Vulcans added to the lead with a two-run double by Heyd before Jahoda followed with an RBI single, both with two outs.

Wideman and Reicoff led off the fourth with back-to-back doubles before Reicoff scored on a sacrifice fly. Jahoda belted a two-run homer, her third of the year, in the fifth after a leadoff walk to Heyd.

Freshman Kaity Davis (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson) tossed a two-hit, complete-game shutout and issued no walks over 5.0 innings (50 pitches) to improve to 10-2 this season. Lady Knights junior Jess Rectenwald (8-6) was saddled with the loss after yielding five runs (four earned) on eight hits in 3.0 innings (54 pitches).

Cal U continues its road trip tomorrow, Tuesday, April 22, with a doubleheader at Slippery Rock, starting at 2:30 p.m.