ERIE, Pa. (April 23) – Behind a one-hit, complete-game shutout by senior
Alex Sagl (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Trafalgar) in Game 1, the No. 9 Vulcans claimed a doubleheader sweep at Gannon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action on Saturday afternoon, winning 7-2 and 4-0.
With the sweep, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team improves to 30-2 overall with a 17-1 mark in league play. The Vulcans remain fifth in the latest NCAA Atlantic regional rankings with the NCAA Tournament field announced on May 2. Meanwhile, Gannon falls to 18-18 this season behind a 9-9 record in divisional action. With two games left in the regular season, the Lady Knights are tied for second in the league standings and hold a one-game lead over fourth place.
In Game 1, Sagl improved to 14-2 this season after tossing a one-hit complete-game shutout, her sixth shutout of the year. She finished with six strikeouts and prevented Gannon from advancing a runner into scoring position over 7.0 innings (104 pitches). Gannon starter Olivia Gumbita (11-8) suffered the loss after allowing four runs (all earned) on 10 hits and four walks in 7.0 innings (121 pitches), while posting eight strikeouts.
The Vulcans took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second after five-straight batters reached with one out. Freshman left fielder
Taylor Robblee (Woodstock, Ontario/College Avenue) reached on a hit by pitch before freshman designated player
Emilee Downing (Groveport, Ohio/Groveport Madison) followed with a double. Senior second baseman
Erica Vallecorsa (Latham, N.Y./Shaker) delivered an RBI single to right field before Downing scored on a fielder's choice.
After leaving the bases loaded in the fourth, Cal U manufactured a run in the sixth to take a 3-0 lead. Vallecorsa led off the inning with a single and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and wild pitch. Following a walk, Vallecorsa scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore shortstop
Emily Price (Warren, Ohio/Howland). The Vulcans added an insurance run on another sacrifice fly in the seventh after the inning started with a double by senior third baseman
Natalya Smarra (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) and a single by sophomore center fielder
Jacquelyn Fowler (Grove City, Ohio/Central Crossing).
Smarra and Vallecorsa each collected three hits in the victory with Smarra finishing 3-for-4 and Vallecorsa going 3-for-3.
In Game 2, senior
Meghan Uher (Acme, Pa./Connellsville) improved to 10-0 this year after yielding one run (earned) on four hits in 4.0 innings (57 pitches). Robblee registered her third save of the season after allowing one run (earned) and tallying six strikeouts in 3.0 innings of relief. Gannon starter Kellyn Perich (6-7) was saddled with the loss after surrendering five runs (four earned) on seven hits and two walks in 2.0 innings.
The Vulcans took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a two-run double by Robblee with two outs. Cal U added to the lead in the second on a three-run homer by Smarra, her fifth of the year, before Gannon answered with one run on three singles in the bottom of the inning, 5-1.
Cal U later stretched the lead to 7-1 in the fifth on a two-run single by Price with two outs. The Lady Knights countered with one run in the sixth despite Robblee recording four strikeouts in the inning – first batter reached on a wild pitch before scoring on a two-out double.
Robblee went 2-for-4 with two RBI, while Downing and junior catcher
Megan Jahoda (Buchanan, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) both collected two hits. Smarra posted three RBI and two runs scored in the victory.
The Vulcans close out the regular season tomorrow, Sunday, April 24, when they host a doubleheader against Seton Hill on Senior Day at 2 p.m.
