ERIE, Pa. (April 21) – The No. 18 Vulcans extended their winning streak to seven games on Tuesday afternoon after sweeping a doubleheader at Mercyhurst in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play, winning 7-1 and 4-3.

With the sweep, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team improves to 24-9 overall with an 18-5 mark in league action. The Vulcans continue to sit second in the PSAC West standings in both league wins (Seton Hill, 21) and league winning percentage (.783; Gannon, .833). Meanwhile, Mercyhurst falls to 13-25 this season behind a 7-16 record in divisional action.

In Game 1, the Vulcans registered a 7-1 victory after batting around in a five-run fourth inning. Cal U scored in the top of the first on a wild pitch before Mercyhurst tied the score at 1-1 on a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the second.

Freshman designated player Hailey Wilson (Delaware, Ohio/Olentangy) led off the fourth with a single through the middle before the Vulcans later loaded the bases with back-to-back walks. Freshman shortstop Emily Price (Warren, Ohio/Howland) then lined a two-run single up the middle before junior first baseman Lindsay Reicoff (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) followed with an RBI single. Senior center fielder Shelby Heyd (Innisfil, Ontario/Nantyr Shores Secondary) delivered an RBI double before the final run of the inning scored on a ground-out. Cal U added an insurance run in the top of the fifth with an RBI single by junior right fielder Kaity Finley (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) that scored Wilson, who reached on a leadoff error.

Heyd and junior second baseman Erica Vallecorsa (Latham, N.Y./Shaker) both tallied multi-hit games, while Finley and Wilson each scored twice in the victory.

Junior Alex Sagl (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Trafalgar) improved to 13-4 this season after earning the complete-game victory. She yielded one run (earned) on five hits and one walk over 7.0 innings with 11 strikeouts Mercyhurst starter Annie Truelove (5-14) suffered the loss after surrendering seven runs (six earned) on eight hits and six walks in 4.1 innings.

In Game 2, the Lakers took a 1-0 lead in bottom of the first before the Vulcans answered in the second on RBI singles by sophomore catcher Megan Jahoda (Buchanan, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) and Price. Mercyhurst later tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth on a solo homer by right fielder Kayla Larson.

Cal U countered in fifth with a two-run homer by freshman left fielder Jacquelyn Fowler (Grove City, Ohio/Central Crossing) to reclaim the lead at 4-2. In the bottom of the sixth, Sagl entered in relief with runners on the corners and no outs before striking out the first batter she faced. The Lakers then cut the deficit to 4-3 after executing a squeeze play before Sagl induced a foul-out and strikeout to end the inning.

Junior Meghan Uher (Acme, Pa./Connellsville) won her eighth-consecutive decision and improved to 9-1 this season after allowing three runs (all earned) on eight hits in 5.0-plus innings. Sagl registered her third save of the year after posting four strikeouts in 2.0 scoreless innings of relief. Mercyhurst freshman Heather Nye (3-4) was saddled with the loss after yielding four runs (all earned) on 10 hits and five walks in 7.0 innings.

Vallecorsa went 3-for-4 while hitting No. 9 in the lineup and Fowler finished 2-for2 with a two-run homer. Junior third baseman Natalya Smarra (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) also scored two runs after reaching twice on walks.

Cal U returns to action tomorrow, Wednesday, April 22, when it travels to play a doubleheader at Clarion beginning at 2:30 p.m.