QUAKERTOWN, Pa. (May 4) – The Vulcans surrendered two homers, including a three-run homer in the seventh, on Thursday morning while suffering a 6-1 loss to Lock Haven in an elimination game during the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament.
With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team finishes the year with a 22-17 overall record. The Vulcans eclipsed the 20-win mark for the 10th-straight season while earning the third seed from the PSAC West. Meanwhile, Lock Haven, which is the second seed from the PSAC Central, improves to 26-20 this season and advances to play at least one more elimination game on Thursday.
The Vulcans trailed 2-1 entering the top of the seventh before pinch hitter Bryann Hilty belted a three-run homer in just her 15th at-bat of the season. Lock Haven later stretched the lead to 6-1 following a two-out RBI single to right-center field. Cal U loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning with three singles, but was unable to trim the deficit.
Junior shortstop
Emily Price (Warren, Ohio/Howland), sophomore third baseman
Taylor Robblee (Woodstock, Ontario/College Avenue) and junior second baseman
Kaylyn Roose (Akron, Ohio/Revere) each collected two hits and reached base safely three times. Price collected two singles and drew one walk, Robblee tallied a pair of singles and reached on an error and Roose posted two hits and one walk.
Cal U threatened with a runner in scoring position in both the first and third before Lock Haven took a 2-0 lead in the fourth on a homer by first baseman McKenna Carlock, her team-leading eighth of the season. The Vulcans answered in the bottom of the inning when Roose scored on a two-out fielding error after starting the inning with a single, 2-1.
The Bald Eagles stranded runners on the corners in the top of the fifth before the Vulcans left the bases loaded in the bottom of the inning. Cal U had the game-tying run in scoring position with one out in the sixth before the inning ended on a line-out and fly-out.
The Vulcans finished the game with 14 runners left on base (eight in scoring position) after going 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position. In its two losses in the PSAC Tournament, Cal U left the bases loaded a combined four times and allowed five runs in the seventh inning.
Senior starter
Portia McBride (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) suffered the loss to end the year with a 9-6 record. She allowed two runs (both earned) on three hits with six strikeouts in 3.1 innings before a comebacker forced her to leave the game. Robblee then worked 3.0 innings of scoreless relief before allowing four-straight batters to reach in the seventh, all of who came around to score.
Lock Haven sophomore Bekah Slattery (14-10) earned the complete-game victory after yielding one run (unearned) and scattering 10 hits over 7.0 innings (134 pitches).
