CALIFORNIA, Pa. -- California (Pa.) extended its winning streak to nine games on Monday afternoon after sweeping a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West doubleheader against Clarion with a pair of shutouts at Lilley Field, winning 7-0 and 10-0.
With the victories, the Vulcans improve to 13-4 overall and with a 6-0 mark in league action. In three doubleheaders against divisional opponents, Cal U has out-scored its opponents by a 52-5 margin while posting a .423 batting average. Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles fall to 1-12 this season behind a 0-6 record in PSAC West play.
In Game 1, sophomores Alex Sagl and Haley Bashada combined for a one-hit shutout in a 7-0 victory. Sagl (8-2) allowed just two base runners, with neither advancing into scoring position, in six innings (81 pitches). Sagl also posted eight strikeouts and extended her scoreless streak to 28 innings, which dates back to March 15. Clarion starter Shawnna Crago (1-4) suffered the after yielding two runs (both earned) on four hits and two walks in four innings (61 pitches).
The Vulcans scored the opening run of the game in the bottom of the third on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly before adding another run in the fourth on an RBI single by freshman left fielder Megan Jahoda.
Cal U. batted around in the fifth inning and scored four runs, including three unearned runs. With the bases loaded and no outs, senior second baseman Shelby Lia reached on a run-scoring throwing error. Jahoda later drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs and sophomore third baseman Natalya Smarra followed with a two-run single. The Vulcans added their last run of the game on an RBI ground-out in the sixth.
Freshman center fielder Kaity Finley finished 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored and sophomore first baseman Lindsay Reicoff went 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored. Lia, Jahoda and Smarra each finished with a pair of RBI in the win.
In Game 2, freshman Kaity Davis and Bashada combined for another one-hit shutout. Davis (5-2) earned her fourth consecutive win after tossing four shutout innings (40 pitches) and recorded a pair of strikeouts. Bashada retired the Golden Eagles in order in both of her relief appearances on Monday. Clarion freshman Paige Baker (0-5) was saddled with the loss after being roughed up for nine runs (eight earned) in three innings (75 pitches) of work.
The Vulcans jumped out a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a two-run homer by junior shortstop Breanna Morris, her first of the year. Cal U. added to the lead in the second when Smarra scored from second on a two-out throwing error.
In the third, the Vulcans batted around and scored five runs behind a pair of homers in the inning. Lia belted a two-run homer, her third of the season, before Jahoda later added a solo homer, her second of the year. Following a two-out single by Smarra, senior designated player Stephani Ellis followed with an RBI double before scoring on a single by Finley.
Cal U. mounted a two-out rally in the fourth behind three singles in a row, including an RBI single by junior left fielder Shelby Heyd.
Lia finished 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs second while becoming the fourth player in program history to tally 30 career homers. Smarra went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored and Reicoff scored a pair of runs.
