WINFIELD, W.Va. (Feb. 9) – Under interim head coach
Nikki Yanchak, the Vulcans split their season-opening doubleheader at Concord on Sunday afternoon at Winfield High School, suffering a 4-1 walk-off loss in Game 1 before rallying for an 11-9 victory in Game 2.
NOTES
• California (1-1) utilized a combined six newcomers in the lineups on Sunday.
• The Vulcans were playing earliest game in the calendar year since the 2019 campaign.
• Yanchak earned her first victory since 2023 when she served as head coach at Alderson Broaddus.
GAME 1
• The Vulcans held a 1-0 lead before the Mountain Lions rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seventh.
• Junior transfer
Cheyenne Beayon (1-0) suffered the loss after allowing four runs (all earned) on seven hits and four walks in 6.2 innings (103 pitches).
• Cal left the bases loaded in both the first and second innings before scoring its lone run of the game in the top of the third.
• Freshman designated player
Amarah McCutcheon delivered an RBI single after senior center fielder
Brianna Sersevic opened the inning with a double.
• Beayon forced the Mountain Lions to strand seven runners on base, including four in scoring position, over the opening six innings.
• Concord tied the score at 1-1 on a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded and one out before shortstop Lacie Lewis belted a walk-off, three-run homer.
• Junior transfer shortstop
Jenna Hollerich posted two hits in the loss.
GAME 2
• Cal erased an 8-4 deficit after two innings behind a five-run sixth inning.
• Sersevic collected three hits and three RBI, while McCutcheon tallied two hits, four RBI, three runs and one walk.
• Freshman third baseman
Makayla Jerin added two hits and two RBI in the win.
• Junior
Megan Nidoh (1-0) earned her first career win after allowing one run (earned) on four hits over 5.2 innings of relief (87 pitches).
• The Vulcans took a 4-0 lead in the top of the first behind a three-run double by McCutcheon before she scored on a two-out error.
• Concord answered with five runs in the bottom of the inning and three runs in the second to take an 8-4 lead.
• Cal later scored one run in both the third and fifth innings to cut the deficit to a 9-6 margin.
• The Vulcans claimed the lead in the sixth after scoring five runs on three hits and five walks.
• Hollerich posted an RBI single before McCutcheon and junior transfer first baseman
Lakyn Blackburn later delivered back-to-back RBI singles.
• Cal then drew four-straight walks with two outs to claim the 11-9 lead.
NEXT
• The Vulcans are set to return to action on Feb. 23 with neutral games against West Virginia State and Charleston (WV) in Glenville, West Virginia.