Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ERIE, Pa. – The Mercyhurst University softball team fell twice to eighth-ranked California (Pa.) in a double header Tuesday at the Mercyhurst Softball Field.  The Vulcans shut out Mercyhurst 7-0 in game one, but the Lakers fought hard before bowing 4-2 in game two.
 
Senior Megan Hopton suffered the loss in he opener after pitching the entire seven innings.  She allowed seven hits, two earned runs and had five strikeouts in the loss.
 
California scored five runs in the first two innings.  The Vulcans tallied six hits in taking the lead while the Lakers' defense committed four errors.  The most notable hit was Shelby Lia who cracked a three-run homerun in the bottom of the second.
 
Shelby Heyd stroked an RBI-double in the top of the fifth, while Alex Sagl drove in the final run on a fielder's choice.
 
The Vulcans outhit Mercyhurst 11-to-2 in game one.  Junior Courtney Smith and Senior Kristen Fyffe recorded the only hits for the Lakers.
 
In game two, California Pa. scored early again with three runs in the top of the third.  The Vulcans loaded the bases with a single, walk and a fielder's choice bringing  Stephani Ellis to bat.  Ellis then doubled to right center to plate all thee runnrs. 
 
Lia hit her second homerun of the season to make the score 4-0 in the top of the fifth.  The Lakers retaliatedwith two runs in the bottom of the fifth.  Senior Julie Harmon collected her second hit of the day and moved to second base on an outfield error.  She was driven in by freshman Allison Yule, who hit her seventh double of the season.
 
Yule moved to third on a single from freshman catcher Taylor Jezuit.  Yule later scored when Jezuit got caught in a rundown. 
 
The Lakers triled only 4-2 with two innings left, but couldn't mount another rally. Mercyhurst fell to 18-26 overall and to 5-9 in the PSAC.  The Vulcans improved to 28-2 and 11-1 in the PSAC.  California suffered its only conference loss to the Lakers earlier in the season.
 
Sophomore Annie Truelove pitched the entire seven innings in the nightcap for Mercyhurst.  She allowed four hits, four runs, along with five strikeouts and five walks.  Truelove is now 6-8 on the mound.
 
Mercyhurst will return to action on Saturday, April 27, when it holds senior day against Edinboro University.  First pitch in game one is set for 2:30 p.m.