ERIE, Pa. (April 27) – The Vulcans remain in contention for the league tournament after claiming a doubleheader sweep against Mercyhurst in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play on Saturday afternoon, claiming a 2-1 win in Game 1 before registering a 9-1 run-rule victory in Game 2.
With the sweep, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team improves to 13-21 this season behind a 9-9 mark in divisional action. The Vulcans now sit one-game back of Edinboro for the final playoff spot from the PSAC West entering the final day of the regular season. Meanwhile, the Lakers fall to 9-32 overall and hold a 3-15 record against league opponents.
In Game 1, senior
Emilee Downing (Groveport, Ohio/Groveport Madison) earned the complete-game victory to improve to 4-8 this season. She allowed one run (earned) on three hits and three walks over 7.0 innings while registering nine strikeouts. Mercyhurst starter Tori Pierucci suffered the loss after yielding two runs (both earned) on five hits and three walks in 7.0 innings.
The Vulcans scored both of their runs in the bottom of the first. Sophomore catcher
Brooke Wilson (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) and senior second baseman
Taylor Robblee (Woodstock, Ontario/College Avenue) both reached on walks to start the game. Downing then reached on an infield single before sophomore right fielder
Janelle Allison (Pleasant Hills, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) drew a bases-loaded walk. Following a strikeout, senior designated player
Carly Konopka (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) delivered an RBI single to left center.
Mercyhurst threatened with a runner on second in each of the initial three innings of the contest, but Downing prevented each runner from advancing. Cal U looked to add to its lead with a two-out single in the bottom of the third and the runner advanced to second on a wild pitch before a strikeout ended the inning. The Lakers cut the deficit to 2-1 in the sixth when shortstop Emma LeGendre led off the inning with a solo homer. Downing then retired the next six batters in order to seal the victory.
In Game 2, Cal U forced the run-rule victory with a three-run homer by Allison, her third of the year, in the bottom of the sixth. Wilson finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored from the leadoff spot and Robblee tallied two doubles, four RBI, one run scored and one walk. Konopka also scored twice in the win.
The Lakers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a two-out RBI single before the Vulcans answered with four unearned runs in the second. Konopka reached on an error and advanced to second on a single by sophomore first baseman
Hannah Clunk (New Cumberland, W.Va./Oak Glen). Sophomore shortstop
Alexa Pastor (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) followed with a single to left center before Clunk was forced out at third. Wilson reached on an infield single to load the bases before Robblee delivered a three-run double to left field.
Cal U added one run in the third on a two-out error before Wilson and Robblee collected back-to-back doubles in the fourth to stretch the lead to 6-1. The Vulcans then posted their second run-rule victory of the season on a three-run homer by Allison in the sixth.
Robblee earned the win to improve to 9-7 this year while tossing her 10th complete game of the season. She scattered four hits and two walks while surrendering one run (earned) over 6.0 innings. Pierucci (5-19) was again saddled with the loss after allowing five runs (all unearned) on six hits in 3.0 innings.
The Vulcans close out the regular season tomorrow, Sunday, April 28, with a doubleheader at Seton Hill in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, at 1 p.m.
