ERIE, Pa. – The Mercyhurst University softball team hosted Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West champion, California (Pa.) University today April, 20 at the Mercyhurst Softball Field.  The Vulcans took both games from the Lakers, 14-5 and 11-5, leaving Mercyhurst's playoff hopes in the hands of Gannon University.

The sweep drops the Lakers to 24-22 overall this season and 7-9 in the PSAC West.  Cal U improves to 32-6 overall this season while cruising to a 12-2 mark in conference play.

In the opener, the Vulcans came out swinging as they plated six runs in the first inning before manufacturing five more in the second putting the Lakers down 11-0.  The score would expand to 12-1 before Mercyhurst was able to generate a multi-run inning. 

In the bottom of the fifth inning senior Samantha Eimers jump-started what would be a four-run inning for the Lakers as she sent a single up the middle.  Junior Molly McNamara moved Eimers to second on a bunt single.  The third batter of the inning, freshman Shania Bunker, roped a double into left center scoring Eimers from second.  With two runners on base senior Jen Bower took the plate and sent a towering fly ball over the center field fence for a three-run homer.  The dinger brought the Lakers within seven runs of the Vulcans, but that's all the closer they would get as California (Pa.) concluded the opener with a 14-5 win.

The Lakers jumped out early in the night cap as they picked up momentum with a three-run third inning.  Eimers again started the rally with a single up the middle.  The Ripley, N.Y. native then used her speed to get into scoring position by swiping second.  An error by the Vulcans shortstop helped Eimers score the first run of the game and placed Bunker on first base.  The Lakers cleanup hitter, Bower, took center stage once again blasting a two-run shot to center field marking her second hit of the game.  Her homer put the Lakers on top 3-0.

Not to be outdone, California (Pa.) pushed four runners across in the top of the fourth inning to take a one-run lead.  The Vulcans tacked a run on in the fifth putting them up by two, 5-3.

With two outs in the fifth inning and a runner on, Bower sent a laser to center and over the fence marking her third homer of the series and second of the game.  Her blast tied the game at five apiece. 

Unfortunately for the Lakers that's all the offense they could muster as Cal scored the final six runs of the game.
All told for the series, Bower went 5-6 from the dish driving in seven runs while crossing the plate three times.  Eimers scored three times and finished two-for-six at the plate in the doubleheader.

The playoff picture is as follows for the Lakers after the sweep:

• If Edinboro gets swept at Gannon on Saturday, then Mercyhurst would make the playoffs
• If Edinboro splits at Gannon on Saturday, Mercyhurst would miss the playoffs and Edinboro would get in based on road wins against conference opponents.

The Gannon/Edinboro double header which will be played at Gannon University. 

The Lakers are scheduled to play a regional game on Monday, April 23 against Notre Dame College at home.  Game time is set for 3 p.m.