GREENSBURG, Pa. (April 30) – The Vulcans scored three runs in the sixth inning of Game 2 against Seton Hill on Friday afternoon to claim a doubleheader split in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action, suffering a 5-1 loss in Game 1 before claiming a 6-3 victory in Game 2.
With the split, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team moves to 18-7 overall – all in league play. The Vulcans also secured a berth and the third seed from the division in next week's PSAC Tournament on Friday. Meanwhile, the Griffins stand at 25-9 this season behind a 22-6 mark in conference action.
In Game 2, freshman
Kaitlyn Leary (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty) earned the victory to improve to 5-3 this season. She allowed two runs (both unearned) on three hits and one walk while working 4.2 innings (64 pitches) of relief.
The Vulcans stranded a runner on third in both the first and second innings before the Griffins took a 1-0 lead on a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the second. Cal U left the bases loaded in the third before taking a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning without collecting a hit. Freshman center fielder
Alyssa Young (Enon Valley, Pa./Mohawk) scored on a two-out error before senior first baseman
Paige Wilson (Warren, Pa./Warren) reached on a bases-loaded walk.
Seton Hill reclaimed the lead at 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run homer by designated player Nina Grandey before Cal U tied the score in the fifth on a solo homer by designated player
Shayna Postler (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park), her second of the season. The Vulcans later took the lead in the sixth when freshman right fielder
Charity Henderson (Scottdale, Pa./Southmoreland) collected a two-run single and later scored on a sacrifice fly.
In Game 1, the Griffins seized a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the second behind a three-run homer by Grandey. Cal U scored on an infield single by senior catcher
Brooke Wilson (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) in the top of the third before forcing Seton Hill to strand the bases loaded in the bottom of the inning.
Seton Hill later added an insurance run in the sixth on a squeeze bunt following a triple before leaving runners on second and third.
Sophomore
Ellie Lobdell (Warren, Pa./Warren) suffered the loss after surrendering four runs (all earned) on five hits in 1.2 innings. Leary tossed 4.1 innings of relief in Game 1 and yielded one run (earned) on four hits and two walks in 4.1 innings of relief.
The Vulcans close out the regular season tomorrow, Saturday, May 1, when they host Seton Hill on Senior Day at Lilley Field with play starting at 1 p.m.
