• Box Score

BLOOMSBURG, Pa. (May 22) – In their fourth meeting against No. 6 Bloomsburg in a month, the No. 13 Vulcans were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament in the Super Regionals by the Huskies with a 7-0 loss on Saturday morning at Jan Hutchinson Field.

With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team finishes the season with a 37-14 overall record behind a combined 7-5 post-season mark in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) and NCAA Tournaments with four of post-season losses coming at Bloomsburg. Meanwhile, the Huskies improve to 49-6 overall and advanced to next week's College World Series in St. Joseph, Mo.

The Huskies, who were the visiting team on the scoreboard, opened the game with three runs on three hits in the first inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Bloomsburg scored its first run of the game on a walk. Designated player Emily Young followed with a two-run, bases-loaded double before junior Maria Greco (Pickering, Ontario/Notre Dame Catholic) entered the game and retired the final two batters of the inning to force the Huskies to strand two runners in scoring position.

Cal U threatened to make its own first-inning rally, as it had the bases loaded on two singles and a walk. However, Bloomsburg starter Shavaun Fisher forced an infield popup to end the inning without allowing a run. The Vulcans again had two runners on base in the bottom of the second before Fisher induced a groundout to again end the threat. In the bottom of the fourth, senior center fielder Julie Mackenzie (Mississauga, Ontario/Meadowvale) opened the inning with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, however, the next two batters were retired in order.

The Huskies then increased their lead to 7-0 after scoring four runs on five hits in the top of the sixth. With one out, shortstop Mandy Koch collected a two-run double before left fielder Lori Neyhard and third baseman Nikki Shikco delivered RBI singles later in the inning. In the bottom of the sixth, the Vulcans had a pair of runners on with two outs following a fielder's choice and two-out single by Mackenzie before Fisher induced an inning-ending groundout.

Senior starter Lauren Shaheen (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) was saddled with the loss after allowing three runs (all earned) on three hits in only 2.0 innings of work. Greco totaled 5.0 innings of relief and allowed four runs (all earned) on seven hits.

In the loss, Cal U seven starters collected one hit – all singles.