CALIFORNIA (April 2) – The Vulcans opened Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play with a doubleheader sweep over No. 24 Seton Hill on Saturday afternoon at Lilley Field, winning 6-1 in Game 1 and 5-1 in Game 2.

With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team improves to 12-7 this season behind a 2-0 mark in league play. The Vulcans swept the Griffins for the first time since the 2017 season, plus earned their first victory over a nationally-ranked team since the 2016 NCAA Tournament. Meanwhile, Seton Hill falls to 22-5 overall behind a 0-2 mark in league action.

In Game 1, the Vulcans scored four runs in the bottom of the third and limited one of the top-scoring offenses in the conference to just one run to earn the victory. Freshman Caleigh Rister (Bucyrus, Ohio/Bucyrus) went 2-for-2 with two runs scored, one walk and one hit by pitch from the leadoff spot. Senior catcher Brooke Wilson (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) collected a two-run triple, one run scored and one walk, while freshman shortstop Kaitlyn Achtermeier (Gilford, Ontario/Bill Crothers) tallied a two-run double.

Cal U took a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the third on one hit, two walks and two errors. After consecutive walks to begin the inning, Wilson belted a two-run RBI triple to right center to give the Vulcans a 2-0 lead. After an error scored Wilson, sophomore first baseman Shayna Postler (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) recorded a sacrifice fly to extend the Cal U lead, 4-0.

Seton Hill trimmed the lead in the top of the fourth on an RBI ground-out. The Vulcans stretched their lead in the bottom half of the inning, as Achtermeier delivered a two-out, two-run RBI double off the right-field fence to lead 6-1.

Rister secured the complete-game victory to improve to 7-2 this season. She allowed one run (earned) on seven hits, three walks and three strikeouts in 7.0 innings (98 pitches). Rister recorded 15 ground-outs, including eight of the last 11 batters. Seton Hill starter Morgan Ryan (7-2), a Notre Dame transfer, was saddled with the loss after yielding six runs (four earned) on five hits and three walks in 4.0 innings (76 pitches).

In Game 2, five different Vulcans scored one run as Cal U used three runs in the second and a pair of home runs to secure the doubleheader sweep. Sophomore third baseman Britney Wilson (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) finished with a two-run homer, while Postler added a solo homer.

Cal U scored three runs on three hits in the bottom of the second to take an early lead. After sophomore right fielder Charity Henderson (Scottdale, Pa./Southmoreland) drew a walk to begin the inning, Britney Wilson delivered a two-run homer to right field, her first of the season. Later in the inning, Rister recorded a two-out RBI double to extend the Vulcans lead, 3-0.

In the fourth, Postler began the inning with a solo homer to left field, her second of the season. The Vulcans stretched their lead in the bottom of the fifth when Brooke Wilson recorded her second RBI triple of the day, 5-0. The Griffins threatened in the seventh as they loaded the basses on three-straight hits to begin the inning before right fielder Jenna Osikowicz recorded an RBI single through the left side, 5-1. Junior Ellie Lobdell (Warren, Pa./Warren) entered the circle in relief and registered three-straight outs with the bases loaded to secure the victory.

Senior starter Kelsey Barron (La Salle, Mich./St. Mary Catholic Central) earned the win after allowing one run (unearned) on six hits, one walk and two strikeouts in 6.0 innings (94 pitches). Seton Hill freshman Chloe Elliot was saddled with the loss after surrendering four runs (all earned) on four hits and two walks in 3.0-plus innings (64 pitches).

Cal U continues its homestand on Friday, April 8, when it hosts Gannon for a PSAC West doubleheader, beginning at 2:30 p.m.