CALIFORNIA (March 14) – The Vulcans claimed a doubleheader split against IUP on Sunday afternoon at Lilley Field in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play, suffering a 10-6 extra-inning loss in Game 1 before posting a 4-2 victory in Game 2.

With the split, Cal U and IUP both sit at 5-3 overall after splitting four games this weekend.

In Game 2, freshman Kaitlyn Leary (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty) improved to 2-2 this season after earning the complete-game victory. She yielded two runs (both earned) on seven hits while tallying five strikeouts in 7.0 innings (117 pitches). IUP freshman Bella Bucy (1-1) was saddled with the loss after allowing four runs (all earned) on six hits in 6.0 innings (96 pitches).

The Vulcans raced out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first after scoring all three runs with two outs. Freshman designated player Shayna Postler (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) delivered an RBI double before freshman left fielder Jordan Pinneri (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) lined a two-run single to left center.

In the third, freshman right fielder Charity Henderson (Scottdale, Pa./Southmoreland) stretched the lead to 4-0 with a solo homer – her team-leading third of the season. Leary forced the Crimson Hawks to strand a runner on third in the fourth and retired the side in order in the fifth.

IUP trimmed the deficit to 4-2 in the top of the seventh on back-to-back RBI singles with two outs before Leary recorded a ground-out to end the contest with the game-tying run on base.

Postler went 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored in the contest.

In Game 1, IUP scored four runs in the top of the seventh to take a 5-4 lead before Cal U tied the score in the bottom of the inning. Using international tiebreaker rules in extra innings, the Crimson Hawks reclaimed the lead with five runs – all unearned – in the eighth before forcing the Vulcans to leave the bases loaded in the bottom of the inning.

Henderson finished 4-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. Pinneri collected two hits and three RBI, while freshman second baseman Salena Jaquay (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) scored twice after drawing a pair of walks.

The Vulcans took a 1-0 lead on an RBI single by Henderson in the first before stretching the lead to 4-0 in the third. Jaquay scored on a bases-loaded wild pitch and Pinneri later recorded a two-run single with two outs. IUP scored once in the fifth before belting a pair of two-run homers in the seventh.

Cal U forced extra innings when Henderson scored on a sacrifice fly after reaching on a leadoff single and advancing to third on a pair of wild pitches. In the eighth, the Crimson Hawks scored on an RBI double before loading the bases on an error and hit by pitch. The Vulcans then retired the next two batters before issuing a bases-loaded walk and a three-run double, 10-5.

In the bottom of the inning, Cal U loaded the bases before Henderson reached on an RBI single and had the game-tying run at the plate before a strikeout ended the game.

Leary was saddled with the loss after surrendering five runs (all unearned) in 1.1 innings of relief. Sophomore Ellie Lobdell (Warren, Pa./Warren) took a no-decision in the start after allowing five runs (all earned) on 10 hits and three walks in 6.2 innings (118 pitches). IUP starter Hope Jones (2-0) logged a staggering 171 pitches in the complete-game victory, yielding six runs (five earned) on nine hits and seven walks while totaling 12 strikeouts.

The Vulcans return to action on Friday, March 19, with a doubleheader at Clarion, starting at 2:30 p.m.