Head Coach Niki Cognigni-Pecora and the Mountain Cats will make their 2023 home debuts and begin PSAC West play with a doubleheader against California (PA), Tuesday afternoon at V.E. Erickson Complex.  Game one of the doubleheader is scheduled to start at 2 p.m.
 
      The Mountain Cats posted a 6-10 overall mark at the Spring Games in Florida, including a 10-2 victory in five innings over Kentucky Wesleyan to close out the trip on March 11.  Freshman right-hander Mia Smith went 3-1 with a 1.75 ERA and 38 strikeouts in five appearances on the team's Florida trip.  Last weekend's games at Lock Haven and Seton Hill were postponed due to weather.
 
      Coach Rick Bertagnolli's (30^th year) Vulcans finished with a 7-9 record at the Spring Games in Florida.  The Vulcans last played on March 7 when the defeated Notre Dame (OH), 2-0, and suffered a 2-1 loss to West Virginia Wesleyan.  California (PA) also had last weekend's games postponed due to weather.
 
      Last season in California, the Vulcans picked-up a pair of closed wins over the Mountain Cats on April 22.  In the opener, Maddie Flowers had two hits, including a solo homer, and Olivia Porter added two hits, but California (PA) held off Pitt-Johnstown, 5-3.  The Vulcans took the nightcap, 2-1.  Flowers added two more hits for the Mountain Cats, and Brooke Wilson was 2-for-3 for the Vulcans. 
 
      Pitt-Johnstown will host PSAC Western Division doubleheaders against Edinboro on Friday at 2 p.m. and Gannon on Saturday at 1 p.m. at V.E. Erickson Complex.