EDINBORO, Pa. (April 26) – Behind a career-high 15 strikeouts by junior Alex Sagl (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Trafalgar) in Game 1 and a three-run 10th inning, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team swept a doubleheader at Edinboro on Sunday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play, winning 7-1 and 4-2.

With the sweep, the Vulcans extend their winning streak to 11 games and improve to 28-9 overall and 22-5 in divisional play. Cal U is now tied with Seton Hill for the most wins in PSAC West play and boasts the top league winning percentage (.815). Meanwhile, the Fighting Scots fall to 21-12-1 this season behind a 13-10-1 mark in divisional action.

In Game 1, Sagl won her fifth-straight start to improve to 15-4 this year and established a career high with 15 strikeouts. She scattered just two hits and issued three walks while allowing one run (unearned) over 7.0 innings. Sagl allowed just 10 of the 28 batters she faced to put a ball in play and struck out the side in three innings. Edinboro sophomore Kalet Lenart (6-4) suffered the loss after surrendering three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks in 4.0-plus innings.

The Vulcans took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second after back-to-back, two-out RBI singles by sophomore catcher Megan Jahoda (Buchanan, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) and junior second baseman Erica Vallecorsa (Latham, N.Y./Shaker). Edinboro looked to answer in the bottom of the inning after the first two batters reached base safely before Sagl recorded two-straight strikeouts and induced a ground-out to end the inning.

In the fifth, sophomore right fielder Kaity Finley (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Senior center fielder Shelby Heyd (Innisfil, Ontario/Nantyr Shores Secondary) later reached on a hit by pitch before junior third baseman Natalya Smarra (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) reached on a two-out single and an error on the play allowed Finley to score. Cal U stretched the lead to 5-1 in the top of the sixth with a two-run homer by Jahoda, her fifth of the year, before adding a pair of insurance runs in the seventh. Junior first baseman Lindsay Reicoff (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) reached on an error and scored on an RBI single by Smarra, who scored when a two-out error allowed freshman designated player Hailey Wilson (Delaware, Ohio/Olentangy) to reach base.

Smarra finished 3-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored, while Jahoda went 2-for4 with a two-run homer and three RBI.

In Game 2, the teams went to the international tiebreaker after both teams were unable to break a 1-1 tie in the eighth and ninth innings. The Vulcans loaded the bases in the top of the 10th after a walk and hit by pitch before freshman left fielder Jacquelyn Fowler (Grove City, Ohio/Central Crossing) delivered a two-run single. Following a strikeout, Jahoda collected a two-out RBI single to give Cal U a 4-1 lead. The Fighting Scots managed an RBI double in the bottom of the inning before the next two batters were retired in order.

Sophomore Kaity Davis (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson) earned the victory in relief to improve to 1-3 this season. She allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits and four walks over 7.0 innings, while forcing the Fighting Scots to leave eight runners on base. Edinboro sophomore Taylor Payne (6-2) was saddled with the loss after yielding three runs (two earned) on three hits in 3.0 innings of relief.

Cal U took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a solo homer by freshman shortstop Emily Price (Warren, Ohio/Howland), her sixth of the year. The Fighting Scots had the leadoff batter reach in five of the first six innings, stranding five runners in scoring position, before tying the score in the bottom of the seventh. Edinboro opened the inning with back-to-back singles before a sacrifice bunt and intentional walk loaded the bases. The Fighting Scots then tied the game on a fielder's choice to third base.

In the eighth, Edinboro led off the inning with a walk and a single before Davis retired the next three batters in order. The Fighting Scots again threatened to claim the victory in the ninth after loading the bases with a leadoff double and two intentional walks. Davis induced a fly-out to sophomore right fielder Courtney Sinclair (Oil City, Ontario/Lambton Central), who entered the game in the eighth inning as a defensive replacement. Sinclair then threw out second baseman MaryLouise Lindner at home for the third out of the inning.

Price registered her team-leading 15th multi-hit game of the season, finishing 2-for-5 with a solo homer and two runs scored. Jahoda also posted two hits and an RBI, while Fowler drove in two runs.

The Vulcans, who have already clinched a berth in the PSAC Tournament, return to action tomorrow, Monday, April 27, when they travel to face Clarion in a doubleheader at 1:30 p.m.