EDINBORO, Pa. (April 15, 2016) – The Edinboro University softball team faced a tough task in its home opener on Friday afternoon as they welcomed the tenth-ranked Vulcans for a PSAC West doubleheader. The Fighting Scots displayed valiant efforts in both contests of the twinbill, before succumbing to California (Pa.) in both games by scores of 6-3 and 11-8.
 
The Fighting Scots will continue its stretch of four PSAC doubleheaders in four days tomorrow afternoon, hosting local rival Gannon with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. On Sunday, April 17, Edinboro will welcome another local rival, Mercyhurst, for the conclusion of the four-day stretch with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. as well.
 
Game One – California 6, Edinboro 3
The Fighting Scots jumped on the Vulcans early on, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first thanks to a Brooke Callaghan RBI single. Edinboro tacked on another run in the bottom of the third inning to take a 2-0 lead.
 
Following singles by Olivia Jankowski and Haley Struebing, Callaghan drew a walk to load the bases for Theresa Fleckenstein. Fleckenstein was hit by a pitch to score Jankowski from third.
 
Carley Nasca received the start in the circle for the Fighting Scots, throwing a no-hitter through the first three innings before the Vulcans finally got on base on an Emily Price single in the top of the fourth. Giving up just one hit, Nasca took a shutout into the top of the sixth inning before the Vulcans finally broke through, scoring four runs in the half inning.
 
Leadoff batter Emily Price doubled to left center and came around to score on the next at-bat as Lindsay Reicoff reached first on an error before advancing to second on a throwing error. The big hit of the inning came off pinch-hitter Emilee Downing's two-run double to give the Vulcans a 4-2 lead.
 
The Fighting Scots responded in the bottom half of the sixth as Heather Tighe singled up the middle and was eventually hit in by MaryLouise Lindner's single to right field to cut the Cal lead to 4-3.
 
The Vulcans added two more runs in the top of the seventh to bring the score to 6-3 as the game shifted to the home half of the final inning, but the Fighting Scots were unable to get the offense flowing, being set down in order to end the contest.
 
Nasca pitched all seven innings for the Fighting Scots, giving up five hits and walking six. With the loss, the freshman is now 3-6 on the season. Alex Sagl picked up her 12^th win of the season for the Vulcans, tossing a complete game with eight strikeouts to improve to 12-1.
 
Game Two – California 11, Edinboro 8
Continuing the trend from the opening contest of the twinbill, the Fighting Scots took the lead in the bottom half of the first inning, this time jumping out to a 3-0 lead over the Vulcans. With runners on first and third following Olivia Jankowski and Haley Struebing singles, Kylie Mason drilled a two-run double right up the middle. Theresa Fleckenstein followed up with a single right back up the middle as well to score Mason from second.
 

The Vulcans responded swiftly, scoring three runs in the second and four in the third to take a 7-3 lead which stood until the fifth when they added on two more runs in the top of the inning to build the lead to 9-3.
 
The Fighting Scots wouldn't go quietly, however, responding with three runs in the bottom half inning to cut the deficit to 9-6 with the big hit coming courtesy of Mason once again. After three straight singles from Jankowski, Struebing, and Callaghan, Mason hit her second two-run double of the contest to score two runs before Fleckenstein once again returned the favor, driving in Mason with a single to left center.
 
Cal added runs in the top of the sixth and seventh to bring the score to 11-6 as the contest entered the final half inning of the afternoon. Struebing led off the inning with a double down the right field line which Callaghan cashed in with a two-run home run, her team-high fourth homer of the season, to straight away center to bring the score to 11-8.
 
That was as close as Edinboro would cut it unfortunately, as the next three batters failed to get on base as the Vulcans held on to win.
 
Kerri Stevens received the loss for Edinboro, putting her record at 2-5. Meghan Uher recorded her eighth win of the season for the Vulcans, staying undefeated at 8-0. Taylor Robblee picked up the save, her second of the season