ERIE, Pa. (April 13) – The Vulcans claimed a dramatic doubleheader sweep on Friday afternoon at Mercyhurst in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action, posting a 2-1 walk-off win in Game 1 before recording an 8-7 walk-off victory in extra innings of Game 2.
With the wins, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team improves to 11-9 this season behind a 5-1 record in league play. The Vulcans served as the home team in both games of the doubleheader. Meanwhile, the Lakers fall to 5-21 overall with a 2-6 mark in divisional action.
In Game 1, Mercyhurst rallied to tie the score at 1-1 with a two-out rally in the top of the seventh. Freshman catcher
Brooke Wilson (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) opened the bottom of the inning with a single before advancing to second on a fielder's choice. Senior third baseman
Carlee Wickstrom (Canonsburg, Pa./Peters Township) followed with a walk-off RBI single to score Wilson from second.
Wickstrom finished 3-for-4 with one RBI, while Wilson went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and one walk. Senior center fielder
Jacquelyn Fowler (Grove City, Ohio/Central Crossing) added two hits and one RBI from the cleanup spot.
After leaving the bases loaded in the third, the Vulcans broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth. Wilson led off the inning with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Wickstrom then followed with a single to advance Wilson to third and Fowler delivered an RBI single. Mercyhurst managed to tie the score at 1-1 in the seventh after three-straight batters reached base safely with two outs. Cal U then made a pitching change before a strikeout ended the inning.
Junior
Carly Konopka (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) earned the victory after recording the last out in the top of the seventh. Classmate
Emilee Downing (Groveport, Ohio/Groveport Madison) took a no-decision after yielding one run (earned) on seven hits while matching her career high of nine strikeouts in 6.2 innings. Mercyhurst starter Tori Pierucci (3-9) was saddled with the loss after allowing two runs (both earned) on nine hits and three walks in 6.0-plus innings.
In Game 2, Cal U scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth and added two runs in the seventh to force extra innings on Friday. The Vulcans loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the eighth before junior
Abby Sachse (Sugarloaf, Pa./Hazleton) scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch.
Wickstrom again recorded a three-hit game, finishing 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Sophomore first baseman
Paige Wilson (Warren, Pa./Warren) added two hits and one RBI, while
Brooke Wilson scored two runs from the leadoff spot.
The Vulcans took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first after Wilson started the inning with a walk. Following a sacrifice bunt, Wickstrom delivered an RBI double before scoring on a two-out single by
Paige Wilson. Mercyhurst tied the score at 2-2 in the top of the fourth before taking the lead in the fifth. The Lakers added two runs in the sixth to stretch the lead 5-2 before the Vulcans answered in the bottom of the inning. Wickstrom and Fowler started the inning with back-to-back singles before junior
Taylor Robblee (Woodstock, Ontario/College Avenue) later reached on a single to load the bases. Senior
Hailey Wilson (Delaware, Ohio/Olentangy) then delivered a game-tying, three-run single with two outs.
In the top of the seventh, Mercyhurst started the inning with five-straight singles that led to a pair of runs to take a 7-5 lead. Freshman second baseman
Alexa Pastor (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) reached on a hit by pitch to open the bottom half of the inning before
Brooke Wilson lined a single. After a walk loaded the bases, Wickstrom belted a game-tying, two-run double.
The Lakers threatened in the eighth by drawing back-to-back walks to start the inning. Konopka then retired the next three batters in order to keep the score tied. In the bottom of the inning, Sachse collected a single and advanced to second on a hit by pitch.
Brooke Wilson then drew a walk to load the bases before Sachse scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch.
Konopka (4-2), who started the game and reentered in the sixth, claimed the win after allowing five runs (all earned) on 11 hits and three walks over 7.0 innings. Senior Heather Nye (1-5) suffered the loss after surrendering one run (earned) on two hits and one walk in 1.2 innings of relief.
Cal U returns to action tomorrow, Saturday, April 14, when it travels to play a doubleheader at Slippery Rock, starting at 11 a.m.
