CALIFORNIA (April 1) – The No. 22 Vulcans earned a doubleheader sweep against Pitt-Johnstown at Lilley Field in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action Tuesday afternoon, posting run-rule victories with a score of 10-0 in each game.

With the victories, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team improves to overall record of 13-5 with a 7-1 record in league play. Meanwhile, the Mountain Cats fall to 3-13 overall with a 3-5 league record in their first year as an intercollegiate team.

In Game 1, the Vulcans exploded in the second inning which was started by an RBI single up the middle by junior second baseman Erica Vallecorsa (Latham, N.Y./Shaker), who eventually scored on a wild pitch to make the score 2-0. Sophomore right fielder Kaity Finley (Latrobe, Pa/Greater Latrobe) doubled down the left-field line to score another run before freshman left fielder Jacquelyn Fowler (Grove City, Ohio/Central Crossing) belted a two-run homer to center field giving the Vulcans a 5-0 advantage. Later in the inning, senior designated player Becca Reinhart (Shoemakersville, Pa/Reading Central Catholic) doubled to left field, crossing two more runs to give Cal U a 7-0 lead after the second inning. In the bottom of the third, junior third baseman Natalya Smarra (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) hit a solo homer to left, her first of the year, to extend the lead to 8-0. Smarra later knocked in two more runs on a double to right center to make the score 10-0 before the game ended after five innings.

Junior pitcher Alex Sagl (Oakville, Ontario/ Oakville Trafalgar) earned the win (6-2) after tossing 5.0 shutout innings, striking out seven and limiting UPJ to only five hits, all singles. Mountain Cats pitcher Melissa Wagner (1-7) was tagged with the loss after allowing seven runs (four earned) and eight hits in just 1.2 innings of work.

The Vulcans recorded 15 hits in the game, including two home runs and three doubles. Finley and Smarra each finished 3-for-3 with a combined four RBI and three runs scored, while Fowler and Reinhart each tallied two RBI.

In Game 2, the Vulcans got on the board in the bottom of the first with sacrifice flies from sophomore catcher Megan Jahoda (Buchanan, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) and Heyd to take a 2-0 lead. Freshman first baseman Hailey Wilson (Delaware, Ohio/Olentangy) then hit a three-run homer down the left-field line to put Cal U ahead 5-0 after the first inning. In the second, the Vulcans added to their lead after freshman shortstop Emily Price (Warren, Ohio/Howland) hit a two-run homer to right field to make the score 7-0. Later in the inning, Reinhart delivered a single up the middle that scored Jahoda to give Cal U its eighth run in just two innings. After a scoreless third inning, Heyd hit her third home run of the year to left center to give Cal U a 10-0 lead.

Junior pitcher Meghan Uher (Acme, Pa./Connellsville) received the win (5-1) after allowing only one hit and striking out three hitters in 2.1 innings. Sophomore pitcher Kaity Davis (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson) relieved Uher and pitched 2.0 shutout innings, allowing no hits and striking out four. Junior pitcher Hailey Bashada (Belle Vernon, Pa./Belle Vernon) completed the shutout by recording the last two outs of the game.

The offense was led by the quartet of Heyd, Reinhart, Price and Smarra, who all finished 2-for-2 with a combined six RBI. Wilson added three RBI and a run scored on her first home run of the season.

Cal U is scheduled to be back in action tomorrow, Thursday, April 2, when it hosts Mercyhurst. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.