• Box Score

DRIFTON, Pa. (April 26) – Despite loading the bases in the bottom of the seventh, the No. 22 Vulcans were eliminated from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament on Thursday morning with a 3-2 loss against Shippensburg at the ASA of PA Jake Kislan Softball Complex.

With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team falls to 32-8 this season after dropping back-to-back games in the PSAC Tournament. Meanwhile, Shippensburg improves to 19-25 overall and will face Kutztown in another elimination game today at 4 p.m.

The Vulcans took a 1-0 lead in bottom of the third on a pair of singles and a wild pitch. Sophomore second baseman Natalie Wideman (Mississauga, Ontario/Streetsville Secondary) posted an infield single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Sophomore center fielder Stephani Ellis (Vancouver, British Columbia/Prince of Wales Secondary) then collected a two-out RBI single through the right side. After threatening with two runners on in the fourth, the Raiders loaded the bases in the fifth before third baseman Meg Lehman delivered a three-run triple to give Shippensburg a 3-1 lead.

Cal U managed a single in both the fifth and sixth innings but was unable to advance the runners into scoring position. The Raiders looked to add to their lead in the top of the seventh when they opened the inning with a single. Following a pitching change in the middle of an at-bat, sophomore Kaitlyn Schilling (Morrisville, Pa./Pennsbury) retired the next three batters in order to keep the deficit at 3-1.

In the bottom of the seventh, freshman designated player Madison Yanek (North Lima, Ohio/South Range) opened the inning with a single. Wideman later worked an eight-pitch walk before senior third baseman Jillian Russell (London, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic) lined a single into left field to load the bases. Ellis followed with a sacrifice fly that scored pinch runner Kate Natter (Baldwin, Pa./Baldwin) from third and allowed Wideman to advance. With runners on the corners, Russell stole second to move the possible game-winning run into scoring position. However, the Raiders induced a ground-out to end the game.

Russell posted a multi-hit game in the loss, finishing 2-for-4. Ellis registered two RBI against Shippensburg and Wideman reached base safely three times, including two walks.

Sophomore Hope Spancake (Pine Grove, Pa./Pine Grove) suffered the loss after allowing three runs (all earned) on five hits in 6.0-plus innings (98 pitches). Raiders' sophomore Emily Estep registered 14 strikeouts in the complete-game victory, yielding two runs (both earned) on seven hits and three walks in 7.0 innings (145 pitches).

Cal U entered the PSAC Tournament as the second-ranked team in the Atlantic Region. The Vulcans must now wait to see if they receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament with the NCAA Selection Show scheduled to stream on NCAA.com on Monday, April 30, at 10 a.m.

2012 PSAC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Wednesday, April 25
Game 1: (C3) IUP d. (E3) West Chester, 4-1
Game 2: (E1) Kutztown d. (W3) Mercyhurst, 4-0
Game 3: (C2) Bloomsburg d. (W2) Gannon, 7-1 (9 innings)
Game 4: (C1) Lock Haven d. (E2) Shippensburg, 9-6
Game 5: (C3) IUP d. (W1) California (Pa.), 4-3
Game 6: (W3) Mercyhurst d. (E3) West Chester, 9-6 (West Chester eliminated)

Thursday, April 26
Game 7: (E2) Shippensburg d. (W1) California (Pa.), 3-2 (California eliminated)
Game 8: (W3) Mercyhurst d. (W2) Gannon, 6-5 (Gannon eliminated)
Game 9: (C2) Bloomsburg d. (E1) Kutztown, 1-0 (9 innings)
Game 10: (C3) IUP d. (C1) Lock Haven, 14-10
Game 11: (E2) Shippensburg vs. (E1) Kutztown, 4 p.m. - Field 1 (loser eliminated)
Game 12: (W3) Mercyhurst vs. (C1) Lock Haven, 4 p.m. - Field 2 (loser eliminated)

Friday, April 27
Game 13: (C2) Bloomsburg vs. (C3) IUP, 10 a.m.
Game 14: Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 12, 1 p.m.
Game 15: Winner Game 14 vs. Loser Game 13, 4 p.m.

Saturday, April 28
Game 16: Winner Game 13 vs. Winner Game 15, 12 p.m.
Game 17: Immediately following Game 16 (if necessary)