CALIFORNIA (April 16) – While playing its third doubleheader in four days, the No. 10 California University of Pennsylvania softball team registered a doubleheader sweep against Mercyhurst in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action at Lilley Field on Saturday afternoon, winning 7-3 and 6-1.

With the sweep, the Vulcans improve to 27-1 on the year behind a 14-0 mark in league play and have now won 27-straight games. Meanwhile, the Lakers fall to 11-15 overall with a 4-10 record in divisional action.

In Game 1, senior Alex Sagl (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Trafalgar) threw a complete game and surrendered three runs (all earned) on three hits with nine strikeouts in 7.0 innings (107 pitches). She has now earned three victories this week and improves to 13-1 this season. Freshman starter Carly Konopka suffered the loss after lasting just 1.1 innings and allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits.

Cal U took a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the second with three of the runs being unearned. Freshman left fielder Taylor Robblee (Woodstock, Ontario/College Avenue) led off the inning with a single through the right side before advancing on a ground-out. Junior catcher Megan Jahoda (Buchanan, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) reached base safely after a dropped fly-ball that allowed Robblee to advance to third. Junior right fielder Kaity Finley (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) followed with a two-run double to left-center field to give the Vulcans a 2-0 lead. After a pitching change, sophomore shortstop Emily Price (Warren, Ohio/Howland) drew a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch before senior third baseman Natalya Smarra (McKees Rock, Pa./Sto-Rox) singled to the center field wall to score Price and Finley, 4-0. Cal U extended its lead in the fourth inning after Robblee belted a two-out three-run homer to left field, 7-0. Mercyhurst later cut the deficit in the sixth after a lead-off single and a walk before a three-run home run by junior Rachel DiBartolomeo.

Sophomore center fielder Jacquelyn Fowler (Grove City, Ohio/Central Crossing) went 3-for-4 with one run scored, while Smarra and Robblee both tallied two hits and Robblee scored twice.

In Game 2, senior Meghan Uher (Acme, Pa./Connellsville) earned the victory to remain undefeated on the year at 9-0 after scattering three hits and allowing one run (earned) with four strikeouts in 5.2 innings (92 pitches). Robblee tossed 1.1 innings of hitless relief with three strikeouts Sophomore starter Heather Nye (3-7) was saddled with the loss after surrendering six runs (two earned) on six hits with five walks in 2.2 innings (79 pitches).

The Vulcans opened scoring in the first inning after senior first baseman Lindsay Reicoff (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) drew a two-out walk before a trio of singles allowed Reicoff and Smarra to score, 2-0. Mercyhurst cut the deficit to 2-1 in the third after loading the bases before an RBI single up the middle. After the Lakers left the bases loaded, Cal U responded in the bottom half of the inning with four runs. Reicoff led off with a walk before sophomore designated player Hailey Wilson (Delaware, Ohio/Olentangy) reached safely after a fielding error that allowed Reicoff to advance to third. Robblee followed with an RBI single before senior second baseman Erica Vallecorsa (Latham, N.Y./Shaker) laced a double down the left-field line to allow Wilson and Robblee to score to increase the lead to 5-1. Jahoda then followed with a two-out single to score Vallecorsa, 6-1. 

Wilson and Fowler both tallied two-hit games, while Wilson and Vallecorsa registered a pair of RBI. Reicoff also scored twice after drawing walks in her first two plate appearances.

Cal U returns to action with a home doubleheader tomorrow, April 17, against Slippery Rock at 1 p.m.