• Box Score

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (May 8) – In the longest game in school history, junior first baseman Julia Mueller (Bairdford, Pa./Deer Lakes) lifted the California University of Pennsylvania softball team to a 3-2 victory with a walk-off single in the 17th inning against Shippensburg University on Friday in the first round of the double-elimination NCAA Atlantic Regional Tournament.

With the win, the Vulcans improve to 34-8 overall this season and advance to face host No. 2 Lock Haven University tomorrow, Saturday, May 9, in the winners' bracket of the tournament. Earlier in the day, the Bald Eagles claimed an 8-0 five-inning victory over Bowie State University.

In the bottom of the 17th inning, designated player Kristen McKenzie (Senneville, Quebec/St. Thomas) started the frame with a leadoff walk and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by freshman right fielder Katie Burke (Kitchener, Ontario/St. Louis). Mueller followed with a one-out, game-winning single that scored McKenzie from second base.

Junior Sonia Petrosoniak (Mississauga, Ontario/Clarkson) earned the victory after tossing three scoreless innings of relief. She entered the game in the 15th inning with runners on first and second and no outs before the Raiders executed a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position. Petrosoniak then induced a groundball to shortstop Jillian Russell (London, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic), who prevented Shippensburg from taking the lead by throwing home and getting the runner attempting to score from third. Petrosoniak then retired the next seven batters in order to improve to 10-0 this season.

The 17 innings is the most in Cal U school history, as the previous mark for longest game was 13 innings, which happened during the 1990, 1996 and 2003 NCAA Tournaments.

Sophomore starter Maria Greco (Pickering, Ontario/Notre Dame Catholic) also established a new single-game school record in the contest despite taking a no-decision. She worked 14.0-plus innings against the Raiders, breaking the previous record of 13.0 innings which was shared by three different hurlers. Greco allowed only two runs (both earned) on six hits in 14.0 innings and registered 13 strikeouts, only one shy of tying the school record.

The Vulcans took control of the game early when junior second baseman Julie Mackenzie (Mississauga, Ontario/Meadowvale) belted a solo homer (sixth of the season) in the bottom of the first inning. Cal U added to its lead in the fourth when Mackenzie collected a two-out, RBI single that scored Mueller from second base.

Shippensburg evened the contest at 2-2 in the top of the sixth on three singles, one walk and a fielder's choice. Neither team was able to make an attempt at a rally in the final inning before the game was forced into extra-innings.

Greco was dominating after the Raiders evened the score, as she retired 16-straight batters before issuing a walk in the 12th inning. Shippensburg biggest threat to break the tie came in the 15th inning before Petrosoniak worked out of the inning without allowing a runner.

The Vulcans had runners in scoring position four times in extra-innings before breaking the tie in the 17th on the game-winning hit by Mueller.

Sophomore third baseman Danielle Easton (Hanover, Pa./South Western) collected a game-high four hits – all singles – and also drew two walks. Mueller and freshman catcher Alyson Johnson (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central) each posted three hits, while Mackenzie and freshman centerfielder Aubrey Martin (Pittsburgh, Pa./Carrick) finished with two hits.

Sophomore Dana Ward (4-7) suffered the loss for Shippensburg despite allowing only one run on seven hits in 12.2 innings of relief. She finished with 12 strikeouts and issued four walks.

Cal U returns to the diamond tomorrow, Saturday, May 9, when it faces the Bald Eagles at 10 a.m. Earlier this season, Lock Haven swept a doubleheader against the Vulcans at Lilly Field by a combined score of 4-0.

Notes:
In addition to being the longest game and most innings pitched, Cal U set several other school records in the game … The Vulcans had a combined 61 at-bats, shattering the previous record of 47 against Shippensburg in 1992 … Cal U collected a total of 51 putouts, which breaks the previous mark of 39 set in 2003 … Mueller recorded 24 of the 51 putouts to establish a new single-player record, eclipsing the previous mark of 17 set by Jen Wagner in 1995 … The first four players in the Vulcans' line-up registered eight official at-bats and the old school record was six at-bats in a game … McKenzie finished the game with three sacrifices (a new record) and one walk in eight plate appearances … The Vulcans left 18 runner on base in the game, including 11 in scoring position.