ERIE, Pa. (April 14) – The California (PA) softball team recorded a pair of extra-inning victories on Friday afternoon to sweep a doubleheader at Mercyhurst in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play, winning 5-1 in nine innings in Game 1 and 4-3 in 11 in innings in Game 2.

With the sweep, the Vulcans improve to 16-18 overall behind a 9-9 record in league action. Cal and Mercyhurst split the regular-season series this year with the road team sweeping a doubleheader and three of the four games went to extra innings. Meanwhile, the Lakers fall to 21-15 this season with an 11-7 mark in divisional play.

In Game 1, Mercyhurst tied the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth before Cal seized a 5-1 lead in the ninth inning behind a two-run homer by freshman first baseman Madison Lester (Boardman, Ohio/Boardman). Lester finished 2-for-3 with three RBI and sophomore pitcher Caleigh Rister (Bucyrus, Ohio/Bucyrus) collected a pair of hits from the leadoff spot.

Rister earned the complete-game victory to improve to 8-6 this year. She yielded just one run (earned) while scattering eight hits and tallying seven strikeouts over 9.0 innings (126 pitches). Mercyhurst starter Mikaela Schramski suffered the loss after allowing five runs (all earned) on 10 hits in 8.0-plus innings (118 pitches).

The leadoff batter for both teams reached on a single in the first inning, however, neither runner was able to advance past second base. The Vulcans took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth before leaving the bases loaded. Sophomore second baseman Carlena Fiorilli (Mount Vernon, Ohio/Mount Vernon) started the inning with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Lester later delivered a two-out RBI single and junior left fielder Alyssa Rose (Madison, Ohio/Madison) reached on a single to load the bases before an unassisted ground-out to third ended the inning.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Lakers threatened with a walk and infield single before the second lineout double play of the game ended the inning. Cal stranded a pair of base runners in the fifth following a pair of singles before Mercyhurst was retired in order in the bottom of the inning. In the sixth, the Lakers tied the score at 1-1 with a two-out RBI single after the leadoff batter in the inning reached on a single. Mercyhurst started the bottom half of the seventh with a single before Rister retired the next three batters in order to force extra innings.

After both teams were retired in order in the eighth, junior right fielder Charity Henderson (Scottdale, Pa./Southmoreland) started the top of the ninth with a walk before Lester belted a two-run homer, her second of the year, to give the Vulcans a 3-1 lead. Cal then collected three-straight hits with Rose scoring on an RBI single to left field by junior catcher Shayna Postler (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park). Following a pitching change, a wild pitch allowed Cal to advance runners to second and third before Fiorilli drew a walk to load the bases. The Vulcans then added an insurance run on a ground-out before the Lakers were unable to advance a runner into scoring position in the bottom half.

In Game 2, Cal tied the score at 2-2 in the top of the sixth before both teams scored in the 10th when the game went to the international tiebreaker. The Vulcans then manufactured the game-winning run in the top of the 11th before forcing the Lakers to leave runners on second and third in the bottom of the inning.

Rister went 3-for-5 with one run scored and one walk, while Fiorilli finished 3-for-5 with one RBI and one walk. Sophomore shortstop Kaitlyn Achtermeier (Gilford, Ontario/Bill Crothers) collected a pair of hits and Henderson belted a solo homer.

The Lakers took a 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first before stranding the bases loaded. Cal then tied the score in the fifth inning when Fiorilli collected a two-out RBI single to score Rister. Mercyhurst quickly responded by reclaiming the lead in the bottom of the fifth on a pinch-hit RBI single with two outs before a called third strike ended the inning with the bases loaded.

In the sixth, Henderson tied the score with her fourth homer of the season. Both teams stranded a runner at second base in the eighth inning before the Vulcans left runners on first and second in the ninth after back-to-back singles with two outs. In the top of the 10th, Actermeier posted an RBI single after the inning started with a runner at second base. She later advanced to third before Mercyhurst induced back-to-back ground-outs to end the inning. The Lakers then tied the score at 3-3 on an RBI single before stranding the go-ahead run at second base.

Cal retook the lead again in the 11th inning as a sacrifice bunt and sacrifice fly scored the go-ahead run, 4-3. The Lakers had runners on the corners in the bottom of the inning before the trail runner stole second. The Vulcans then kept the lead runner at third on back-to-back ground-outs to shortstop before a foul-out ended the game.

Freshman Kailey Larcinese (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) earned the win in relief after allowing one run (unearned) on two hits with five strikeouts in 6.1 innings (74 pitches). Redshirt sophomore Kaitlyn Leary (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty) yielded one run (earned) on seven hits while working a season-high 4.1 innings (59 pitches) of relief.

The Vulcans are set to continue their weekend road trip tomorrow, Saturday, April 15, when they face Slippery Rock for a doubleheader at 1 p.m.