CALIFORNIA (March 26) – The California (PA) softball team claimed a split of a doubleheader against Slippery Rock at Lilley Field on Sunday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play, earning a 6-3 victory in Game 1 before falling by a 7-4 margin in Game 2.

With the split, the Vulcans move to 9-13 overall behind a 2-4 record in league action. Meanwhile, The Rock stands at 12-12 this season with a 3-3 mark in divisional play.

In Game 1, Cal scored four runs in the second inning and utilized four different pitchers in the victory. Freshman Kailey Larcinese (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) earned the win in relief to improve to 2-3 this season. She scattered two hits and issued three walks over 3.0 scoreless innings. Junior Alyssa Rose (Madison, Ohio/Madison), who started the game at first base, registered the save following a pair of strikeouts in 1.2 innings of scoreless relief. Rock starter Kelsi Anderson (8-2) suffered the loss after surrendering six runs (all earned) on eight hits and four walks in 4.2 innings (118 pitches).

Slippery Rock took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded before the inning ended with a force out at third base. The Rock started the second inning with a triple and the runner later scored on a wild pitch to stretch the lead to 2-0. Cal answered in the bottom of the inning with four runs on four hits to claim a 4-2 lead. Junior catcher Shayna Postler (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) led off the inning with a double to deep center field and scored on an RBI single by sophomore Caleigh Rister (Bucyrus, Ohio/Bucyrus). The Vulcans later scored a pair of runs on two wild pitches before junior designated player Britney Wilson (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) registered a two-out RBI single to center field.

The Rock threatened with runners in scoring position in both the third and fourth innings before Larcinese prevented Slippery Rock from trimming the deficit. In the fifth, Slippery Rock drew a leadoff walk and the runner advanced to third on a wild pitch and sacrifice bunt before a pop-up and unassisted ground-out to first base ended the threat. The Vulcans added to the lead in the bottom of the inning with a pair of runs with two outs, 6-2. Postler lined an RBI double to left center that scored sophomore third baseman Kaitlyn Achtermeier (Gilford, Ontario/Bill Crothers), who reached on an infield single after the ball deflected off the pitcher. Following a walk, Rose delivered an RBI single down the left-field line to score Postler from second.

Slippery Rock countered with an RBI double off the left-field fence in the sixth to cut the deficit to 6-3 before stranding runners on second and third. In the seventh, Rose tallied back-to-back strikeouts before the game ended with an unassisted ground-out to first.

Postler finished 2-for-3 with two doubles, one RBI and two runs scored, while Rose went 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored. Achtermeier tallied a pair of hits and one run scored, while sophomore left fielder Carlena Fiorilli (Mount Vernon, Ohio/Mount Vernon) drew three walks and scored once.

In Game 2, Cal held a 4-2 lead after three innings before Slippery Rock later tied the score in the fifth and scored three runs in the sixth. Rose (1-4) was saddled with the loss after yielding three runs (two earned) in 1.0 inning of relief. Larcinese posted 2.1 innings of scoreless relief and Rister finished with 3.2 innings of relief in the loss, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits with seven strikeouts. Rock starter Alexsa Hurd earned the victory after yielding four runs (all earned) on five hits and four walks in 6.0 innings (111 pitches).

The Rock took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a two-out RBI single after the initial two batters of the game reached via singles. Cal quickly responded in the bottom of the inning with a three-run homer by Achtermeier, her second of the year. The Rock then stranded a pair of runners on base in each of the next two innings. The Vulcans threatened in the bottom of the third by loading the bases with a pair of infield singles and a walk. Cal stretched the lead to 4-2 when a run scored on a wild pitch on a strikeout before a sharp line-out to right field ended the inning.

In the fourth, Slippery Rock took advantage of a two-out error and cut the deficit to 4-3 on a shallow RBI single down the right-field line. The Rock later tied the score in the fifth after executing a double steal of home before Rose retired the next two batters in order to end the inning. Slippery Rock continued the momentum in the sixth by scoring three runs to take a 7-4 lead after benefiting from four errors in the inning by Cal. In the seventh, the Vulcans had the game-tying run at the plate with two outs before a fly-out ended the contest.

Achtermeier went 2-for-2 with the three-run homer and two walks. Postler also drew a pair of walks.

The Vulcans continue PSAC West play on Tuesday, March 28, when they host a doubleheader against IUP at Lilley Field.