ERIE, Pa. (April 15) – The No. 18 Vulcans managed a split of a doubleheader at Gannon on Wednesday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action, falling 5-4 in extra innings in Game 1 before posting a 6-1 victory in the nightcap.

With the split, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team moves to 17-8 overall with an 11-4 mark in divisional play. Meanwhile, Gannon stands at 17-8 this season behind an 11-3 record in league action.

In Game 1, the Vulcans took a 4-3 lead in top of the ninth with a solo homer by junior first baseman Lindsay Reicoff (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley), her 10th of the year. However, Gannon answered by scoring the game-tying and game-winning runs in the bottom of the inning, both with two outs.

Sophomore right fielder Kaity Finley (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) reached base in all five plate appearances, finishing 4-for-5 with two runs scored while batting leadoff. Senior second baseman Becca Reinhart (Shoemakersville, Pa./Reading Central Catholic) collected three hits and one RBI, while senior center fielder Shelby Heyd (Innisfil, Ontario/Nantyr Shores Secondary) tallied two hits and one RBI. In the loss, Reicoff became the first Cal U player with three-straight seasons of double-digit homers since All-American infielder Jillian Russell.

Cal U took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first following a two-out RBI single by Heyd before Gannon answered in the bottom of the inning with a solo homer by second baseman Jen Moran. The Lady Knights later claimed a 3-1 lead in the third after outfielders Jess Rectenwald and Jackie Martinez belted back-to-back solo homers.

With the bases loaded and two outs in the fourth, junior Haley Bashada (Belle Vernon, Pa./Belle Vernon) struck out the initial batter she faced to end the scoring threat. The Vulcans then tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the fifth after scoring two runs on three hits and one walk. Finley reached on a one-out, infield single and advanced to second on a wild pitch before scoring on an RBI double by freshman shortstop Emily Price (Warren, Ohio/Howland). Reinhart later delivered a two-out RBI single to left center that scored Price from second.

Cal U stranded runners on the corners in both the sixth and seventh before the game went to extra innings after Gannon left runners on the corners in the bottom of the seventh. Freshman left fielder Jacquelyn Fowler (Grove City, Ohio/Central Crossing) opened the eighth with a single through the left side and advanced to second on sacrifice bunt. Finely then reached on an error that allowed Fowler to move to third before the inning ended with a double play.

Bashada (2-1) suffered the loss after allowing two runs (both earned) on four hits and four walks in 5.0 innings (85 pitches). Junior Alex Sagl (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Trafalgar) took a no-decision after surrendering two runs – both solo homers – in 2.2 innings of work, the shortest start of her career. Gannon reliever Olivia Gumbita (9-2) earned the victory after yielding one run (earned) on five hits and one walk in 4.0 innings.

In Game 2, five different players posted multi-hit games in the victory for the Vulcans. Finley again paced the offense from the leadoff spot, going 3-for-4 with one run scored, while sophomore catcher Megan Jahoda (Buchanan, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) went 2-for-4 with three RBI and one run scored. Junior third baseman Natalya Smarra (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) collected a pair of hits and scored twice and Reinhart and Fowler both tallied two hits.

Cal U took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second with Jahoda delivering a two-run single to left center after the inning started with three-straight singles. The Vulcans then batted around in the fourth and finished with four runs on five singles, one walk and one error to stretch the lead to 6-0. Smarra reached on an error and later scored on an RBI single by Jahoda before Price drew a bases-loaded walk. Following a pitching change and pop-up, Heyd collected a two-run single up the middle with two outs.

In the fifth, the Lady Knights avoided the shutout with a two-out RBI single before leaving runners on second and third in the bottom of the sixth.

Junior Meghan Uher (Acme, Pa./Connellsville) earned the victory to improve to 6-1 this season after allowing one run (earned) on three hits and three walks over 5.2 innings (85 pitches). Sagl returned to the circle and worked the final 1.1 innings of the game, registering three of her four outs via strikeout. Gannon starter Jess Rectenwald (5-3) was saddled with the loss after surrendering six runs (two earned) on nine hits and one walk in 3.1 innings.

Cal U is slated to return to action on Friday, April 17, with a doubleheader at Pitt-Johnstown with the games starting at 2:30 p.m.