Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

CALIFORNIA, Pa. – The Mercyhurst University softball team split with No. 11 California Pa. on Wednesday afternoon at Lilley Field.  The Lakers rallied for a 4-3 victory in the opener before dropping a 13-3, five-inning decision in game two.
 
The Vulcans were the first on the board in game one when Alex Sagl hit a solo homerun to give her team a 1-0 lead.  Sagl went 2-for-2 in game one.  Mercyhurst got the equalizer in the sixth when Kaliegh Milliman blasted a homerun of her own.  Milliman's homerun was the first of her Mercyhurst career. 
 
The Vulcans grabbed a 2-1 lead heading into the seventh inning, but Mercyhurst rallied with five hits and three runs.  Junior Courtney Smith doubled to lead off the inning.  Sophomore Shaina Bunker followed with a single down the left field line and junior Megan Smith got a base hit to tie the game. 
With two outs, Milliman recorded her second hit and RBI of the game and freshman Taylor Jezuit followed with a single to complete the rally.  California (Pa.) got a run back in the bottom of the inning but Mercyhurst held on take the win.
 
In game two, Mercyhurst was first to score when senior Kristen Fyffe hit a sacrifice fly with runners in scoring position.  Courtney Smith hit a sacrifice fly of her own in the third for a second run.  But the Vulcans scored a combined eleven runs in the second and third innings to take an 11-2 lead and coasted from there.
 
Down 13-2, the Lakers scored a run in the top of the fifth to complete the scoring.  Mercyhurst is now 10-14-0 in the season and is 1-3 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC).  California suffered its first conference loss to the Lakers (1-1 PSAC) and is 15-1 overall.
 
Senior Megan Hopton (6-7) went a combined 8.1 innings in the two games.  Her six strikeouts in the opener equal her season high set back on February 10 against Lenoir-Rhyne.   
 
Mercyhurst travels to Slippery Rock Friday, April 5.  The double header is set for 2:30 p.m.