GREENSBURG, Pa. (April 13) – In its first action in over 10 days, the No. 10 California University of Pennsylvania softball team claimed a doubleheader sweep at Seton Hill in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action on Wednesday afternoon, winning 3-0 and 5-3.

With the sweep, the Vulcans improve to 23-1 this season and remain unbeaten at 10-0 in divisional play. Cal U also extended its winning streak to 23 games, which is the longest active win streak in the Atlantic region. Meanwhile, the Griffins fall to 12-20 overall behind a 5-5 mark in league action.

In Game 1, senior Alex Sagl (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Trafalgar) improved to 11-1 this season after tossing her fifth complete-game shutout of the spring. She scattered five hits and one walk over 7.0 innings (130 pitches) while recording nine strikeouts. Seton Hill starter Kaitlyn Kutchman (8-5) suffered the loss after allowing three runs (two earned) on 10 hits and five walks in 7.0 innings (110 pitches).

The Vulcans took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a bases-loaded single by sophomore center fielder Jacquelyn Fowler (Grove City, Ohio/Central Crossing) before a runner was thrown out at home after attempting to score from second. Cal U loaded the bases again later in the inning with a walk before a strikeout ended the threat.

In the third, senior third baseman Natalya Smarra (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) led off with a double and scored from second on an RBI single through the left side by freshman left fielder Taylor Robblee (Woodstock, Ontario/College Avenue). The Vulcans left the bases loaded in the fourth before adding an insurance run in the top of the sixth. Sophomore shortstop Emily Price (Warren, Ohio/Howland) reached on an error and advanced to second on a two-out walk before scoring on an RBI single by Fowler.

Fowler paced the offense by going 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI, while Price and Smarra each collected a pair of hits.

In Game 2, the top four batters in the Cal U lineup collected multi-hit games. Junior right fielder and leadoff hitter Kaity Finley (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and Price finished 3-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored. Smarra posted a pair of singles and registered three RBI, while senior first baseman Lindsay Reicoff (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) tallied two hits.

The Vulcans again took a 1-0 lead in the first after Finley led off the game with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch before scoring on an RBI single by Price. Cal U scored on a ground-out in the third before Seton Hill tied the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the inning.

The Vulcans nearly batted around in the top of the fourth and scored three runs with two outs to take a 5-2 lead. With runners on first and second, Price lined an RBI single before Cal U loaded the bases with a walk following a pitching change. Smarra then delivered a two-run single through the middle. The Griffins cut the deficit to 5-3 in the sixth with a pair of singles before Seton Hill was retired in order in the bottom of the seventh.

Senior Meghan Uher (Acme, Pa./Connellsville) remained unbeaten this year and improved to 7-0 after allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and one walk in 7.0 innings (85 pitches). Kutchman (8-6) was also saddled with the loss in Game 2 after surrendering five runs (all earned) on seven hits and two walks in 3.2 innings (67 pitches).

Cal U opens the second round of divisional play on Friday, April 15, when it travels to play a doubleheader at Edinboro starting at 2:30 p.m.