Box Scores - L 8-2 / W 7-6
CALIFORNIA - Senior first baseman Kerri Jakobsen hit a home run in the fourth inning and had the go-ahead RBI single in the seventh as East Stroudsburg University overcame a five-run deficit to beat No. 17 California, 7-6, in the second game of a softball doubleheader on Saturday at Lilly Field.
The Vulcans (27-5) won the first game 8-2 and went ahead 5-0 in the first three innings of the second game before the Warriors began their comeback with three runs in the fourth.
Senior C Amanda Feist doubled and scored on a base hit by junior OF Kara Darcey, who was 3-for-3 in the game, and Jakobsen homered to right field to make the score 5-3 as ESU (18-15) got back all three runs it surrendered in the bottom of the third.
ESU tied the game at 5-5 in the sixth when Darcey led off the inning with a base hit and scored from first on a double by freshman SS Brandi Stettler, and freshman DH Caitlin Rosenbaum drove in the tying run with a two-out single.
Cal threatened in the bottom of the sixth but the Warriors got the final out of the inning at home plate after an error to maintain the tie score, and ESU went ahead with two runs in the seventh.
Jakobsen's single with two outs drove in Feist with the go-ahead run to make the score 6-5, and freshman 2B Katelin Fitzpatrick drew a bases loaded walk for an insurance run that proved to be valuable after the Vulcans managed a run in the bottom of the seventh.
Jillian Russell went 4-for-4 in the game for Cal and led off the inning with a single and Danielle Easton's base hit put the tying run on base. The Warriors got the first two outs before Julia Mueller singled up the middle to score Easton, but ESU centerfielder Jamie Mingis cut down the potential tying run at third base to end the game.
Junior Jackie Battaglino threw the entire game for the Warriors and blanked Cal in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to give the offense a chance to come back. She gave up six runs on 14 hits and recorded her 10th complete game of the season.
In the first game, ESU scored twice in its first at bat before Cal went ahead with three runs in the bottom the inning, then pulled away with four runs in the sixth.
Darcey clubbed a two-run double after freshman 3B Rachel Gieringer singled and Feist doubled to put the Warriors on the board. Russell had an RBI single and Easton had a sacrifice fly for the Vulcans, and Julie Mackenzie broke the 2-2 tie with a two-out single.
Easton hit two homers, solo shots to lead off the fourth and sixth innings, as Cal stretched its advantage in the late innings.
The Vulcans turned to Maria Greco for extended relief appearances in both games. She threw the final 6.0 innings to earn the win in the opener after Sonia Petrosniak started and pitched the first inning, and relieved Lauren Shaheen in the fourth inning of game two and was hit with the loss.
Senior Jennifer Bensinger tossed her 13th complete game of the year for ESU in game one.
The doubleheader was the first meeting between the two schools since last year's opening round PSAC tournament game, which ESU won 9-0 in five innings.
The Warriors return to PSAC East action next week as they look to secure one of the division's three playoff spots. They host East-leading Kutztown on Tuesday at 2 p.m. and welcome Shippensburg to Zimbar Field on Friday.
