CALIFORNIA (April 25) - The California (PA) softball team claimed a doubleheader split against league-leading Seton Hill in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play on Tuesday afternoon at Lilley Field, earning a 12-4 run-rule victory in Game 1 before falling by a 3-1 margin in Game 2.

With the split, the Vulcans move to 24-20 overall behind a 17-11 record in conference action. Cal split the four-game, regular-season series with Seton Hill this spring. Meanwhile, the Griffins stand at 26-14 this year with a 19-7 mark against divisional opponents.

In Game 1, Cal erased a 4-3 deficit by scoring three runs in the fifth and forced the run-rule victory with six runs in the sixth. Sophomore Caleigh Rister (Bucyrus, Ohio/Bucyrus) went 3-for-4 with a solo homer and three runs scored, while classmate Kaitlyn Achtermeier (Gilford, Ontario/Bill Crothers) finished 3-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored. Sophomore designated player Rylee Evans (Perryopolis, Pa./Frazier) belted a three-run homer and junior right fielder Charity Henderson (Scottdale, Pa./Southmoreland) posted a pair of hits in the victory.

The Griffins took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first before the Vuclans answered in the bottom of the inning when Achtermeier scored from second on a two-out RBI single by Henderson. Seton Hill started the second inning with back-to-back doubles to take a 2-1 lead before adding another run in the third on a two-out RBI triple, 3-1. Cal again tied the score behind an RBI double to center field by Achtermeier and a sacrifice fly later in the inning.

In the fourth, Seton Hill responded with a two-out RBI triple to claim 4-3 advantage. The Vulcans countered with three runs on two hits and one error in the bottom of the fifth to take their first lead of the game, 6-4. Rister started the inning with a triple to right center and scored on a single by Achtermeier. Henderson then reached on a fielding error to load the bases before a wild pitch scored a run and Cal later scored on a fielder's choice.

The Griffins left the bases loaded in the sixth before the Vulcans sealed the victory in the bottom of the inning. Rister belted a solo homer to left center, her second of the year, and junior Alyssa Rose (Madison, Ohio/Madison) later collected an RBI single before Evans followed with a three-run homer to center field, her third of the spring. Junior Britney Wilson (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) eventually clinched the run-rule win with an RBI double to center field.

Freshman Kailey Larcinese (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) earned the victory in relief to improve to 6-5 this year. She allowed two runs (both earned) on seven hits in 5.0 innings (95 pitches) while tallying six strikeouts.

In Game 2, Cal collected a pair of hits in the first inning before being no-hit for the remainder of the contest. Rose (6-6) was saddled with the loss after yielding three runs (all earned) on five hits and posted five strikeouts in 5.1 innings (95 pitches). Larcinese returned to the circle and worked 1.2 innings of scoreless relief with a pair of strikeouts.

The Griffins took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first before the Vulcans tied the score later in the inning when Rister scored on an RBI double by Achtermeier. Seton Hill reclaimed the advantage in the second with a two-out RBI triple before adding an insurance run in the top of the sixth. The Vulcans had the game-tying run at the plate in the seventh following a four-pitch walk by Rose before a pair of pop-ups ended the game.

Cal returns to action tomorrow, Wednesday, April 26, when it hosts Gannon for a doubleheader in PSAC West action at Lilley Field, starting at 2:30 p.m.