SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. (April 15) – The Vulcans scored six runs in the ninth inning on Game 1 on Saturday afternoon to claim a doubleheader split at Slippery Rock in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play, winning 10-4 in extra innings during Game 1 before suffering a 2-1 loss in Game 2.

With the split, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team moves to 16-12 this season with a 7-5 mark in league action. Meanwhile, Slippery Rock stands at 11-18 overall behind a 5-7 record in divisional play.

In Game 1, the Vulcans broke a 4-4 tie by scoring six runs in the top of the ninth, highlighted by a grand slam from junior catcher Kaylyn Roose (Akron, Ohio/Revere). Cal U loaded the bases on back-to-back singles by junior center fielder Jacquelyn Fowler (Grove City, Ohio/Central Crossing) and sophomore Abby Sachse (Sugarloaf, Pa./Hazleton) before senior right fielder Kaity Finley (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) drew a walk. Sophomore Logan Blake (Jordan Station, Ontario/Bishop Ridley) then reached on a bases-loaded walk before Slippery Rock made a pitching change. Following a pop-up, junior shortstop Emily Price (Warren, Ohio/Howland) delivered a two-out RBI single before Roose belted a grand slam, her first homer of the year.

Cal U tied its season highs with 10 runs and 16 hits in the victory. Price went 4-for-6 with two doubles, two RBI and one run scored, while sophomore Taylor Robblee (Woodstock, Ontario/College Avenue) finished 3-for-5 with a solo homer and two RBI. Finley tallied a pair of hits and scored twice, while Roose posted two hits with the grand slam. Fowler collected two hits and one run scored and Blake scored two runs in Game 1.

The Vulcans took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third on a two-out RBI single by Robblee before The Rock left the bases loaded in the bottom of the inning. Cal U added two runs in the fourth when Finley scored from second on an error and Price later collected a two-out RBI double. Robblee started the top of the fifth with a solo homer, her second of the year.

Slippery Rock cut the deficit to 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth before tying the score on a wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh. The Vulcans managed a two-out base runner in the top of the eighth before The Rock mounted a two-out rally in the bottom half with back-to-back singles before a ground-out ended the threat.

Robblee earned the win to improve to 4-3 this season after allowing one run (earned) on five hits in 3.1 innings of relief (72 pitches). Rock junior Paige Flore (0-4) was saddled with the loss after yielding four runs (all earned) on six hits and three walks in 4.1 innings of relief (81 pitches).

In Game 2, The Rock scored on a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the bottom of the second before adding to the lead in the third on another sacrifice fly. Slippery Rock starter Brooke Dawson retired 15-straight batters before Fowler reached on a double with one out in the top of the seventh. The Vulcans then loaded the bases on a pair of infield singles by Sachse and Finley before Fowler scored on a fielder's choice. Cal U stranded runners on the corners in the inning, as the game ended on a pup-up.

Fowler and Finley both tallied two hits, as the Vulcans finished with six hits.

Sophomore starter Carly Konopka (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) suffered the loss after allowing one run (earned) on four hits and one walk in 1.0-plus inning. Dawson (8-6) earned the complete-game victory after yielding one run (earned) on six hits with no walks over 7.0 innings (90 pitches).

Cal U returns to action on Friday, April 21, when it travels to play a doubleheader against Mercyhurst in Erie, Pennsylvania, at 3 p.m.