ERIE, Pa. (April 14) – The California University of Pennsylvania softball team split a road doubleheader against Gannon on Friday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action, posted a 3-2 victory in Game 1 before suffering a 4-3 loss on a walk-off single in Game 2.

With the split, the Vulcans move to 16-11 overall with a 6-4 mark in divisional play. Meanwhile, the Lady Knights stand at 21-8 this season with an 8-2 record in league play to maintain their lead in the PSAC West standings.

In Game 1, Cal U scored all three of its runs in the fourth and fifth innings before holding on to the victory after Gannon scored twice over the last two innings. Senior Portia McBride (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) improved to 5-3 this year after allowing one run (unearned) on five hits and no walks over 5.0 innings with eight strikeouts. Sophomore Taylor Robblee (Woodstock, Ontario/College Avenue) recorded her second save of the season after tossing 2.0 innings of relief.

McBride retired the initial eight batters she faced before allowing a two-out single in the bottom of the third. The Vulcans took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth on an RBI single by junior first baseman Hailey Wilson (Delware, Ohio/Olentangy) which scored junior center fielder Jacquelyn Fowler (Grove City, Ohio/Central Crossing) who reached on an error to start the inning. Cal U added to its lead in the top of the fifth on a bases-loaded single from junior third baseman Kaylyn Roose (Akron, Ohio/Revere) and a sacrifice fly.

Gannon scored its first run of the game in the bottom of the sixth on a fielding error before cutting the deficit to 3-2 with a pinch-hit solo homer by Rachel Tanilli to open the seventh.

In Game 2, the Lady Knights salvaged the doubleheader split by tying the score in the sixth before winning in the seventh on a walk-off RBI single. Robblee suffered the loss after allowing two runs (both earned) on three hits in 1.2 innings of relief. McBride posted 2.1 innings of shutout relief in Game 2.

Gannon scored one run in the second and third, both with two outs, before Cal U answered cut the deficit to 2-1 in the top of the fourth with a two-out single by Robblee that scored Roose from second. The Vulcans then took the lead in the top of the fifth with a two-run double by senior right fielder Kaity Finley (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) with the bases loaded.

Cal U nearly added to its lead in the top of the sixth after loading the bases with three-straight, one-out singles. However, a force-out at home and fly-out ended the inning. The Lady Knights tied the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth on a RBI ground-out after opening the inning with a single and double. Gannon earned the win in the bottom of the seventh after three batters reached on a single.

Four different players collected multi-hit games in the loss with Finley going 2-for-2 with two RBI. Robblee finished 2-of-3 with one RBI, while sophomore left fielder Logan Blake (Jordan Station, Ontario/Bishop Ridley) and junior designated player Alissa Petrosoniak (Mississauga, Ontario /Streetsville) both collected two hits.

The Vulcans continue their weekend road trip tomorrow, Saturday, April 15, with a doubleheader at Slippery Rock, beginning at 1 p.m.