CALIFORNIA (March 27) – Senior shortstop Alexa Pastor (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) posted an extra-inning, walk-off single in Game 1 at Lilley Field on Saturday afternoon, as the Vulcans posted a doubleheader sweep over Slippery Rock in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action, earning a 6-5 win in Game 1 and a 4-2 victory in Game 2.

With the sweep, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team improves to 11-3 overall and extends its winning streak to seven games. Meanwhile, The Rock drops to 1-9 this season after losing six-consecutive contests.

In Game 1, the Vulcans forced extra innings after freshman right fielder Charity Henderson (Scottdale, Pa./Southmoreland) collected a two-out RBI single to tie the score at 5-5. Slippery Rock was retired in order in the top of the eighth before Cal U registered its first walk-off victory since April 13, 2018. Sophomore center fielder Mackenzie Carson (Tucson, Ariz./Cienega) reached on a leadoff single and advanced to third on a wild pitch and passed ball. The Vulcans later drew a walk before Pastor delivered an RBI single to shallow right field with one out, 6-5.

Pastor set a career high with three hits, finishing 3-for-4 with two RBI. Henderson reached base in all four plate appearances after posting two hits and two walks.

The Rock took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first before the Vulcans tied the score on an infield single by freshman Delaney Girvin (Masontown, Pa./Albert Gallatin) in the bottom of the second. Cal U later scored a pair of runs in the inning on a throwing error, 3-1. Slippery Rock scored three runs in the third before stretching the lead to 5-3 with an unearned run in the fourth.

Pastor posted an RBI single in the fifth to trim the deficit to 5-4 before Cal U left the bases loaded in the sixth.

Freshman Kaitlyn Leary (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty) improved to 4-2 this season after allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits while tallying a season-high six strikeouts in 7.0 innings (93 pitches). Rock starter Kelsi Anderson (1-4) was saddled with the loss after surrendering six runs (three earned) on six hits and five walks in 7.0-plus innings (124 pitches).

In Game 2, Cal U took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on an RBI double by senior first baseman Paige Wilson (Warren, Pa./Warren). The Vulcans added to the lead in the second after opening the inning with three-straight, extra-base hits. Freshman third baseman Britney Wilson (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) led off with her first career homer before freshman left fielder Jordan Pinneri (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) and Carson posted back-to-back triples with Carson then scoring on a sacrifice fly, 4-0.

The Rock took advantage of a fielding error in the fourth to trim the deficit to 4-1. In the top of the seventh, Slippery Rock scored on a two-out RBI single and had the game-winning run at the plate before the game ended on a pop-up.

Junior Kelsey Barron (La Salle, Mich./St. Mary Catholic Central) improved to 4-0 this season while earning the complete-game victory. She yielded two runs (one earned) on six hits with zero walks in 7.0 innings (85 pitches). Rock starter Claire Zimmerman suffered the loss after allowing four runs (all earned) on four hits in 1.0-plus inning.

Cal U returns to action on Tuesday, March 30, when it travels to play a doubleheader at Slippery Rock, starting at 2:30 p.m.