• Box Score

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. (April 28) – Senior catcher Natalie Wideman (Mississauga, Ontario/Streetsville Secondary) belted a pair of grand slams and tied the single-game school record for RBI in Game 1 on Monday afternoon, as the No. 14 California University of Pennsylvania softball team earned a 16-1 run-rule victory at Slippery Rock in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play before Game 2 was cancelled due to field conditions and rain.

With the victory, the Vulcans reach the 30-win mark for the fifth time in the last six years and improve to 30-4 overall. Cal U finished divisional play with an undefeated record for the first time since the 1998 season, posting a 23-0 mark. Meanwhile, The Rock was eliminated from contention for the PSAC Tournament and finished the year with a 16-26 overall record behind an 11-16 mark in league play.

Cal U totaled a season-high five homers in the game and now leads the PSAC with 42 homers this season. Wideman tied the single-game school record with eight RBI and finished 3-for-4 with two grand slams and three runs scored. Sophomore third baseman Natalya Smarra (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) went 2-for-2 with a solo homer, two RBI and three runs scored, while junior shortstop Breanna Morris (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central) collected two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored. Junior center fielder Shelby Heyd (Innisfil, Ontario/Nantyr Shores Secondary) and sophomore left fielder Erica Vallecorsa (Latham, N.Y./Shaker) both scored two runs and registered an RBI.

In the top of the first, the Vulcans batted around and scored eight runs on five hits, two walks and two hit by pitch. Cal U opened the scoring with a two-run double by Morris before adding runs on two-out RBI singles by Heyd and Vallecorsa. With the bases loaded, Wideman belted a grand slam on the first pitch of her second at-bat of the inning.

The Vulcans added five runs in the second inning to stretch the lead to 13-0 after nearly batting around again. Morris led off the inning with a double before scoring on an RBI single by Smarra. Cal U loaded the bases on a hit by pitch and walk before Wideman delivered her second grand slam of the game, her fourth homer of the season.

After a solo homer by Slippery Rock In the bottom of the second, Cal U answered with back-to-back solo homers in the third by senior designated player Stephani Ellis (Vancouver, British Columbia/Prince of Wales Secondary) and Smarra. In the fifth, the Vulcans added to their lead with a solo homer by senior second baseman Shelby Lia (Whitby, Ontario/Donald A. Wilson), who moved into a tie with former teammate Alyson Johnson (2009-12) for fourth place in school history with 35 career homers.

Sophomore starter Alex Sagl (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Trafalgar) won her 16th-consecutive decision and improved to 19-2 this season. She allowed one run (earned) on three hits while posting seven strikeouts in 4.0 innings (71 pitches). Rock senior Emily Lobdell (9-11) suffered the loss after being roughed for 16 runs (all earned) on 11 hits and four walks in 5.0 innings (141 pitches).

The Vulcans return to action on Thursday, May 1, when they open play in the PSAC Tournament at Veterans Park in Quakertown, Pa. Cal U earned the top seed from the PSAC West and will face Mansfield, the fourth seed from the PSAC East, in the first round at 11 a.m.

Note: The remaining five divisional games (Clarion x2, Mercyhurst x2, Slippery Rock) left on the schedule have been cancelled since all the seedings and pairings for the PSAC Tournament have been solidified.