CALIFORNIA, Pa. (April 24) – The Vulcans earned a pair of victories against Gannon on Senior Day in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action on Friday afternoon at Lilley Field, posting a 12-2 run-rule win before claiming a 6-2 victory.

With the sweep, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team extends its winning streak to nine games and improves to 26-9 overall with a 20-5 record in conference action. Meanwhile, Gannon falls to 21-10 overall this season behind a 15-5 mark in league play.

In Game 1, Cal U wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first after junior pitcher Alex Sagl (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Trafalgar) pitched a perfect top half of the inning. With the bases loaded, freshman leftfielder Jacquelyn Fowler (Grove City, Ohio/Central Crossing) drew a walk to drive in the first run of the game. The next batter, freshman designated player Hailey Wilson (Delaware, Ohio/Olentangy), cleared the bases with a double to left-center giving the Vulcans a 4-0 lead. Sophomore catcher Megan Jahoda (Buchanan, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) then belted a home run to center field to cap the six-run inning.

The Vulcans crossed two more runs in the bottom of the second after senior center fielder Shelby Heyd (Innisfil, Ontario/Nantyr Shores Secondary) and junior first baseman Lindsay Reicoff (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) blasted back-to-back homers, 8-0. The Lady Knights didn't register their first hit of the game until the fourth inning which came on a home run to deep right center. Gannon struck again in the fifth inning with another solo home run to cut the deficit to 8-2. In the bottom half of the fifth inning, Reicoff singled up the middle to score Cal U's ninth run. Heyd was the next batter to step in the box and belted a three-run home run to center field to give the Vulcans a 12-2 run-rule victory.

The Vulcans were led offensively by Reicoff and Wilson, who each finished 3-for-3 with five combined RBI. Heyd blasted two home runs in the victory and collected four RBI, while Jahoda finished 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI.

Sagl went the distance for the Vulcans to improve her record to 14-4, while collecting seven strikeouts and giving up only two runs (earned) while scattering four hits. Gannon's Alison Benz falls to 3-4 on the season after surrendering 12 runs (six earned) on 12 hits and three walks.

In Game 2, the Lady Knights struck first with an RBI single to left center before the Vulcans answered back in the bottom of the second when Jahoda hit a solo shot to right center. Junior third baseman Natalya Smarra (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox), Reicoff and Wilson each recorded RBI singles to extend the Vulcans' lead to 4-1. Cal U received two more insurance runs in the sixth inning off of an RBI single from Reicoff and a RBI double from Heyd. In the top of the seventh, Gannon's first hitter of the inning reached on a single leading to a pitching change. Sagl entered the game and allowed an RBI single to make the score 6-2 before shutting the door and giving the Vulcans their second win of the day.

The Cal U offense was led by Reicoff and Heyd, who each finished 3-for-4 with a combined three RBI. Smarra, Wilson and Jahoda batted in the other three runs for the Vulcans.
 
Junior pitcher Meghan Uher (Acme, Pa./Connellsville) recorded the win to improve her record to 10-1 on the season behind two strikeouts and only two runs given up (earned) in 6.0 innings. Sagl tossed the final inning of the game, giving up two hits and no runs. Gannon's Jess Rectenwald suffered the loss and fell to a record of 7-4 after surrendering 11 hits and four runs (earned).

The Vulcans are scheduled to return to action on Sunday, April 26, when they travel to Edinboro for a doubleheader scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m.