SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. (March 25) – In its first action in over two weeks, the No. 13 California University of Pennsylvania softball team posted a doubleheader sweep at Slippery Rock on Friday afternoon while opening Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action, winning 5-4 and 3-1.

With the sweep, the Vulcans improve to 15-1 overall and extend their winning streak to 15 games. Meanwhile, The Rock fell to 9-12 this season and opened league play with a 0-2 mark.

In Game 1, The Rock took the lead three times behind three homers before the Vulcans scored the eventual go-ahead run on a three-run homer in the top of the seventh. Senior Alex Sagl (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Trafalgar) improved to 7-1 this year after allowing four runs (all earned) on eight hits in 7.0 innings (114 pitches) with eight strikeouts. Sophomore Brooke Dawson (2-6) suffered the loss after surrendering five runs (four earned) on six hits and four walks in 7.0 innings (132 pitches).

Slippery Rock took a 1-0 lead in the second on a solo homer by second baseman Caitlin Baxter before Cal U tied the score in the third on a sacrifice fly by senior third baseman Natalya Smarra (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox). In the fifth, Slippery Rock reclaimed the lead at 2-1 on a solo homer by first baseman Allie Fischer before Cal U answered with an RBI ground-out in the sixth.

Slippery Rock countered with a two-run homer by catcher Lauren Halwey with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. In the seventh, the Vulcans had runners on the corners and no outs before sophomore shortstop Emily Price (Warren, Ohio/Howland) delivered a three-run homer, 5-4. In the bottom of the inning, The Rock had runners on first and second with one out before Sagl induced an infield pop-up and recorded a strikeout to end the game.

Junior right fielder Kaity Finley (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and Price finished with three RBI.

In Game 2, senior starter Meghan Uher (Acme, Pa./Connellsville) scattered four hits over 4.1 scoreless innings (64 pitches) to improve to 3-0 this season. Freshman Taylor Robblee (Woodstock, Ontario/College Avenue) recorded the save after tossing 1.0 inning of scoreless relief. Rock starter Paige Flore (3-3) was saddled with the loss after yielding three runs (all earned) on three hits and five walks in 5.1 innings (91 pitches).

The Vulcans took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth behind a solo homer by sophomore center fielder Jacquelyn Fowler (Grove City, Ohio/Central Crossing), her third of the year, before adding a run on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly. Cal U added to the lead in the sixth with a bases-loaded walk by Price before Slippery Rock trimmed the deficit to 3-1 in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single before a runner was thrown out at the plate when attempting to score from second.

Cal U continues its weekend road trip tomorrow, Saturday, March 26, when it faces Mercyhurst in Erie, Pennsylvania, at 2:30 p.m.