CALIFONRIA (March 28) – The California (PA) softball team made a pair of late-inning rallies in a doubleheader split against Slippery Rock at Lilley Field in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action on Thursday afternoon, posting a 7-4 win in Game 1 before scoring four runs in the seventh during an 8-7 extra-inning loss in Game 2.
RECORDS/STATS
• The Vulcans move to 8-7 overall with a 6-1 mark in league play.
• The Rock stands at 10-15 this season behind a 3-3 record in divisional action.
• Cal and Slippery Rock have split the last five doubleheaders in the series dating back to the 2021 campaign.
GAME 1
STATS
• Junior first baseman
Kaitlyn Achtermeier posted two hits, including a solo homer, and two RBI.
• Junior pitcher
Caleigh Rister tallied a pair of hits and one RBI from the leadoff spot.
• Senior third baseman
Shayna Postler reached base in all three plate appearances (two walks, RBI double).
• Rister (4-4) earned the complete-game victory after allowing four runs (all earned) over 7.0 innings (111 pitches) while finishing with six strikeouts.
ACTION
• Cal took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first on two singles and three walks with Rose and Achtermeier both recording RBI singles.
• The Rock scored on a solo homer by designated player Grace Smith in the fourth before Achtermeier countered with a solo homer in the bottom of the inning, 4-1.
• Slippery Rock added one run in the fifth before scoring twice in the sixth to the score at 4-4.
• The Vulcans reclaimed the lead in the bottom half of the inning by scoring three runs on three hits, one walk and one hit by pitch.
• Postler broke the tie with an RBI double before Cal scored a run on a bases-loaded wild pitch.
• Rister later added an insurance run with a RBI double to increase the lead to a 7-4 margin
GAME 2
STATS
• Sophomore right fielder
Mikayla Linkous totaled three hits, three RBI and one run scored.
• Rister delivered a two-run single and Postler scored a pair of runs.
• Senior
Alyssa Rose (4-3) was saddled with the loss after yielding three runs (two earned) on seven hits over 5.2 innings of work (116 pitches) while tying her season high of eight strikeouts.
ACTION
• The Vulcans took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second on an RBI single by Linkous.
• Cal extended the lead in the fourth to a 3-0 margin on a two-run single by Rister with two outs.
• The Rock scored once in both the fifth and sixth to cut the deficit to 3-2 while stranding multiple runners on base in both innings.
• Slippery Rock then rallied to claim a 7-3 lead in the top of the seventh inning on five hits.
• The Vulcans countered by scoring four runs – all with two outs – in the bottom of the inning.
• Rose started the two-out rally with a triple to center field before scoring on an RBI single by senior second baseman
Jordan Pinneri.
• Cal then loaded the bases on a walk and a throwing error on a dropped third strike.
• Junior shortstop
Brianna Sersevic followed with an RBI single through the left side before The Rock made a pitching change and the Vulcans substituted a pair of pinch-runners.
• Linkous followed by delivering a double over the left fielder that scored both runners in scoring position.
• Slippery Rock then executed a precise relay from left field to tag out Sersevic at the plate to end the inning and force extra innings, 7-7.
• The Rock responded with a solo homer by Smith to start the eighth inning.
NEXT
• Cal returns to action tomorrow, Friday, March 29, when it travels to face Clarion for a doubleheader in PSAC West play at 2 p.m.
