CALIFORNIA (April 27) – The Vulcans mounted a late-inning comeback victory for the second-straight day, as they split a doubleheader against Mercyhurst at Lilley Field on Tuesday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action, suffering a 6-0 loss in Game 1 before rallying for an 8-7 victory in Game 2.
With the split, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team moves to 16-6 overall with every game being in divisional play. The Vulcans continue to sit second in the PSAC West standings with a .727 winning percentage and now rank third outright with 16 league wins. Meanwhile, the Lakers fall to 14-18 this season behind a 13-15 mark in conference action.
In Game 2, Mercyhurst scored six runs in the top of the fifth to take a 7-3 lead before Cal U answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning. Freshman second baseman
Salena Jaquay (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) started the inning with an infield single before senior first baseman
Paige Wilson (Warren, Pa./Warren) followed with a double. Jaquay then scored on a fielding error and freshman third baseman
Britney Wilson (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) then delivered an RBI single.
The Vulcans claimed the lead in the sixth after scoring three runs with two outs and capitalizing on a pair of errors.
Paige Wilson and freshman
Charity Henderson (Scottdale, Pa./Southmoreland) delivered back-to-back RBI doubles before Henderson scored the go-ahead run on a fielding error.
Jaquay finished 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored, while
Paige Wilson went 2-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI and one run scored.
Britney Wilson collected a pair of singles and two RBI, while senior catcher
Brooke Wilson (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) scored twice.
Sophomore
Ellie Lobdell (Warren, Pa./Warren) earned the win to improve to 7-2 this season. She allowed just one hit and issued zero walks over 2.1 innings of scoreless relief.
In the bottom of the first, Jaquay lined an RBI triple and scored on a ground-out to give Cal U a 2-0 lead. The Lakers scored one run in the second before the Vulcans extended the lead to 3-1 in the third on an RBI single by Jaquay. Mercyhurst stranded the bases loaded in the fourth after the inning started with a walk and back-to-back singles.
The Lakers batted around in the fifth inning, scoring six runs on six hits to take a 7-3 lead. Mercyhurst tallied three-straight, bases-loaded singles before Cal U made a pitching change. The Lakers then registered a three-run double before the inning ended with a ground-out.
In Game 1, Cal U was limited to three hits while being shutout at home for the first time this season. Lobdell was saddled with the loss after surrendering four runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks in 3.0-plus innings (63 pitches). Freshman
Kaitlyn Leary (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty) yielded two runs (unearned) on four hits and two walks in 4.0 innings of relief (75 pitches).
Mercyhurst took a 1-0 lead in the first on an error before leaving the bases loaded. Lobdell again forced the Lakers to strand the bases loaded in the third before Mercyhurst scored four runs in the fourth after collecting four doubles in the inning. The Lakers added an insurance run with two outs in the sixth after the inning started with a fielding error.
Britney Wilson reached base in all three plate appearances with two hits and one walk.
Cal U looks to return to action tomorrow, Wednesday, April 28, with a doubleheader at Edinboro, beginning at 2:30 p.m.
