CALIFORNIA (April 26) – The California University of Pennsylvania softball team erased a six-run deficit in Game 2 on Monday afternoon to complete a doubleheader sweep over Pitt-Johnstown at Lilley Field in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play, claiming a 5-1 victory in Game 1 and a 10-8 win in Game 2.
With the sweep, the Vulcans improve to 15-5 this season with all 20 games being in league action. Cal U remains second in the divisional standings with a .750 winning percentage and is tied for third in conference wins. Meanwhile, the Mountain Cats fall to 8-24 overall behind a 7-19 mark in PSAC West play.
In Game 1, sophomore
Ellie Lobdell (Warren, Pa./Warren) earned the victory after allowing one run (earned) on five hits with zero walks over 6.1 innings pitched (72 pitches). She held UPJ scoreless through six innings while scattering just two hits and one hit by pitch.
Cal U took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third on a two-run homer by senior catcher
Brooke Wilson (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny), her first of the year. The Mountain Cats threatened to answer in the fourth following a one-out triple before the Vulcans turned a double play with the runner being tagged out at home to end the inning.
In the bottom of the fourth, freshman designated player
Shayna Postler (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) collected a two-run double to extend the lead to 4-0. The Vulcans added an insurance run in the sixth on a two-out RBI single by Postler. UPJ avoided the shutout in the top of the seventh with back-to-back singles and a sacrifice fly.
Postler paced the offense by going 2-for-3 with three RBI in the win.
In Game 2, the Mountain Cats raced out to a 6-0 lead in the top of the first and held an 8-6 lead after four innings. Cal U scored one run on an error in the fifth before claiming the lead by scoring three runs in the sixth, 10-8. Freshman right fielder
Charity Henderson (Scottdale, Pa./Southmoreland) tied the score with a leadoff homer, her fourth of the season, in the bottom of the sixth. The Vulcans then rallied off four-consecutive singles with freshman left fielder
Jordan Pinneri (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) posting an RBI single and Postler scoring on a sacrifice fly.
Lobdell earned the victory after working 3.0 innings of scoreless relief to improve to 6-1 this season. She yielded one hit and two walks while forcing UPJ to strand six runners on base, including four in scoring position.
UPJ took a 6-0 lead in the first after a two-out error allowed three unearned runs to score. In the bottom of the inning, Henderson delivered a two-out RBI double and freshman third baseman
Britney Wilson (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) followed with an RBI single. The Vulcans cut the deficit to 6-5 in the second behind RBI singles by Henderson and
Britney Wilson.
In the third, Cal U tied the score at 6-6 when sophomore center fielder
Mackenzie Carson (Tucson, Ariz./Cienega) scored on a two-out fielding error. UPJ responded with a two-run single in the fourth with two outs to take an 8-6 lead.
Henderson finished 3-for-4 with a solo homer, three RBI and three runs scored.
Britney Wilson went 3-for-3 with two RBI, one run scored and one walk, while Postler tallied three singles and one run scored. Carson and freshman second baseman
Salena Jaquay (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) each posted two hits and two runs scored.
The Vulcans return to action tomorrow, Tuesday, April 27, when they host Mercyhurst for a doubleheader at Lilley Field, starting at 2:30 p.m.
