ERIE, Pa. – The Mercyhurst University softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader at the Mercyhurst Softball Field in Erie, Pa. against California [Pa.] Tuesday afternoon. The Lakers [13-25, 7-16 PSAC] lost game one of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference [PSAC] Western Division matchup by a score of 7-1, while game two saw the California [Pa.] Vulcans [24-9, 18-5 PSAC] pull out the victory 4-3.
The Vulcans threatened early in game one as the first two batters of the day, Kaity Finley and Emily Price, were walked to start the first inning. Finley was able to take home on a wild pitch to give California the lead, 1-0.
Mercyhurst answered back quickly in the next inning. After a leadoff double by
Courtney Brothers,
Annie Truelove singled to right field to bring Brothers home and knot the game up at 1-1 heading to the top of the third.
The Vulcans ripped off a big fourth inning to give themselves a comfortable lead. A Hailey Wilson single followed by a sacrifice bunt by catcher Megan Jahoda put the runner on second with just one out. Consecutive walks by Erica Vallecorsa and Finley loaded the bases for California. Price took a ball back up the middle for a two run single to push the lead to 3-1. Lindsay Reicoff took a single of her own to left field to score the runner from second and increase the lead to 4-1. Shelby Heyd doubled to center to drive in the fourth run of the inning. A sacrifice RBI by Natalya Smarra pushed the Vulcan lead to 6-1 heading to the bottom of the fourth.
An insurance run in the fifth inning came way of an RBI single by Finley to give California a comfortable 7-1 lead.
Alexandra Puckly came in to relieve Truelove in the fifth inning. Truelove pitched four and a third innings, allowing eight hits and six earned runs.
The Lakers could not muster any more offense over the final three innings and fell to California in game one by a score of 7-1. Truelove received the loss for the Lakers, dropping her to 5-14 on the season. Alex Sagl earned the complete game win for the Vulcans, improving to 13-4 on the year.
Game two saw the Lakers jump out to an early lead before dropping the second act of the doubleheader by a score of 4-3 to the Vulcans.
Taylor Jezuit got the Lakers off to a hot start in the bottom of the first with a triple to right center. She was able to take home on a wild pitch to give the Lakers the early 1-0 lead.
The Vulcans answered quickly in the top of the second. After a Smarra walk, a sacrifice bunt by Jacquelyn Fowler pushed the runner into scoring position. A bunt single by Jahoda brought Smarra across to score and knot the game up at 1-1. An RBI single by Price pushed the Vulcan lead to 2-1 heading to the bottom of the second.
Mercyhurst was able to tie the game up at 2-2 just a few innings later. A
Kayla Larson solo home run in the bottom of the fourth put the Lakers right back in the game.
California was able to break the tie just an inning later in the top of the fifth. Following a Smarra walk, Fowler took a pitch deep for a two run homer. The Vulcans regained the lead 4-2.
The Lakers threatened in the bottom of the sixth bringing the game within one run. A
Rachel DiBartolomeo leadoff double followed by a Larson single put runners on the corner with no outs. Sagl entered the game for starting pitcher Meghan Uher in a save following the Larson single. Third baseman
Shannon Minihane laid down a bunt single to drive in DiBartolomeo from third and cut the Vulcan lead to 4-3 heading to the final inning.
The Lakers were unable to record any hits in the bottom of the seventh as they fell to California by a final score of 4-3. Uher [9-1] received the win in game two, pitching five innings and allowing three earned runs.
Heather Nye [3-4] took the loss for Mercyhurst, pitching a complete seven innings and allowing 4 earned runs.
Mercyhurst's next game will be Wednesday, April 22, on the road for another PSAC Western Division doubleheader against Indiana [Pa.]. Game one of the doubleheader is slated for a 2:30 p.m. start.
by Matt Brancato
