EDINBORO, Pa. (April 26, 2015) – The Edinboro softball team nearly ended a 24-game losing streak to California (Pa.) in the nightcap on Sunday but lost a 10 inning game 4-2 that lasted over two hours and 40 minutes after losing the first game 7-1. The Fighting Scots record dropped to 21-12-1 on the year and 13-10-1 in the PSAC West while the Vulcans are 28-9 overall and 22-5 in the conference.

Edinboro still controls its own destiny to make the PSAC Tournament despite today's losses. Indiana (Pa.) split with Mercyhurst while Slippery Rock had the day off. The Scots are tied with IUP with 13 PSAC wins and a game ahead of The Rock who has 12 conference victories. Edinboro faces each of those two teams over the next two days with Slippery Rock coming to Edinboro tomorrow for a 2:30 p.m. doubleheader. 

GAME ONE: California (Pa.) 7, Edinboro 1
The Fighting Scots bats struggled in the opening game. Facing the 2014 PSAC West pitcher of the year Alex Sagl, Edinboro was limited to just two hits while striking out 15 times.

California (Pa.) scored its first two runs on back-to-back singles in the top of the second inning with two outs. Megan Jahoda single to center field scored Shelby Heyd before Erica Vallecorsa's single to right centerfield brought home Natalya Smarra. The Vulcans led 2-0.

Edinboro led off the bottom of the second inning with a double by Brooke Callaghan and walk by Theresa Fleckenstein. From that point on, Sagl took over. The junior pitcher retired the next 11 batters she faced before on an error on the centerfielder curbed that streak. Sagl then retired the next four Scots she faced in a row.

The Vulcans added their other five runs over the final three innings. Kalet Lenart started for the Fighting Scots and threw four plus innings before coming out for Samantha Weaver. Lenart was credited with the loss and fell to 6-4 on the season. She allowed three runs, two earned, five hits, two walks, and struck out five. Weaver finished the game allowing four runs, one earned, three hits, and no walks while striking out one.

Edinboro's lone run came in the final inning. Brooke Callaghan singled to begin the frame and then stole second two batters later. After advancing to third on a groundout, Callaghan scored when MaryLouise Lindner reached on an error by the third baseman.

Sagl improved to 15-4 this season. The one run she allowed was unearned and she issued three walks to go along with the two hits and 15 strikeouts.

Jahoda added a two-run home run in the sixth inning to finish the first game 2-for-4 at the plate with one run and three RBI.

GAME TWO: California 4, Edinboro 2 (10 Innings)
Edinboro came through in the bottom of the seventh inning to push the game into extra innings but could not take advantage of a bases loaded opportunity in the bottom of the ninth inning to win the game.
 

The Vulcans first run was on a solo home run by the second batter of the game, Emily Price. Her deep home run to centerfield gave Cal an early 1-0 lead.

The Fighting Scots put a runner in scoring position in each of the first three innings with Kylie Mason eventually reaching third twice after a single in the first inning and double in the third inning. California (Pa.) was able to get out of each situation unscathed but decided to make a pitching change following Shelby Proctor's walk to lead off the fourth inning. Meghan Uher started in the circle for the Vulcan and was relieved by Kaity Davis who retired the first four Scots she faced.

Kerri Stevens pitched a great game after the first inning home run. She only allowed three hits from that point on as she threw seven innings. In total, Stevens allowed one run, four hits, walked five, and struck out five and allowed the Fighting Scots to stay within one run.

Edinboro finally broke through in the bottom of the seventh inning. Fleckenstein singled to lead off and then head coach Dan Gierlak brought in Alex Carroll to pinch run. Claire Johnston then pinch hit for Jessica Hyland and reached on a bunt to put runners on first and second. Hyland reentered the game with MaryLouise Lindner coming to the plate. Lindner laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners into scoring position. The Vulcans then chose to intentionally walk Mason who was 3-for-3 entering the at-bat. Laura Crooks then delivered the game-tying RBI when she reached on a fielder's choice that saw Carroll score but Hyland tagged out at third base. Taylor Payne then stepped to the plate and flied out to the shortstop but the damage had been done by the Scots to tie the game at 1-1.

The eighth inning went by relatively quickly as each team had just one hit. Payne took over for Stevens in the circle in the eighth and then proceeded to retire the Vulcans in order in the ninth inning.

The Fighting Scots were presented with a golden opportunity to win the game in the bottom of the ninth inning. Lindner double down the left field line to start things off which was followed by another intentional walk of Mason. Crooks advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt. California (Pa.) then intentionally walked Payne to keep the double play ball alive while loading the bases. With just one out, Haley Struebing came to the plate needing just a deep enough fly ball to score Lindner on third base. Struebing put some air under the ball and delivered it to right field where Courtney Sinclair settled under it. Lindner got a late jump off the third base bag and was thrown out at home on the play to end the frame.

Cal retook the lead in the top of the 10^th inning. With the international tiebreaker rule in effect, Price was placed on second base. After Lindsay Reicoff walked and Heyd was hit by a pitch, the Vulcans had the bases loaded. Payne was able to retire the first batter on a fly out but then Jacquelyn Fowler delivered a two RBI single. Jahoda added her fourth RBI of the game with a two out single to center field to score Heyd two batters later. California (Pa.) now led 4-1.

Struebing was placed on second as a result of the international tiebreaker rule to begin the bottom of the 10^th. Callaghan scored Struebing on a double to right centerfield to keep the Scots hopes alive. Davis quickly dashed Edinboro's hopes as she forced Fleckenstein to fly out and struck out T.L. Wreh-Wilson to finish the game.

Davis earned her first win of the season to move to 1-3. She threw seven innings and gave up two runs, one earned, seven hits, four walks, and struck out four.

The loss for Payne moved her record to 6-2. Over the three innings she pitched, the Vulcans had three hits and walked once. Payne struck out two.

Mason finished the game 3-for-3 at the plate with the two walks. The three hits for the junior shortstop tied a career-high that she set earlier this season versus Gannon on April 14. Callaghan was the only other Scot with multiple hits as she was 2-for-5 with one RBI.