• Box Score

SALEM, Va. (March 18) – After leading 9-7 entering the bottom of the seventh, the Vulcans suffered a 10-9 loss in extra-innings to No. 15 West Virginia Wesleyan on Friday night at the Salem Invitational.

With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team falls to 12-6 this season. Meanwhile, the Bobcats extend their win streak to eight games and improve to 19-3 this year.

The Vulcans broke a 7-7 tie in the top of the seventh with a two-run homer by freshman Shelby Lia (Whitby, Ontario/Donald A. Wilson) – her fourth homer of the year. West Virginia Wesleyan then countered with a two-run homer by third baseman Elizabeth Derrick in the bottom of the inning to force extra innings.

Using international tiebreaker rules, Cal U was unable to move its lead runner over to third in the eighth as the Bobcats retired the side in order. In the bottom of the inning, West Virginia Wesleyan advanced its runner to third on a sacrifice bunt before second baseman Alex Whisner followed with the game-winning, walk-off single.

Senior Maria Greco (Pickering, Ontario/Notre Dame Catholic) suffered the loss in relief, allowing three runs (two earned) on only two hits in 1.2 inning of work. Freshman starter Hope Spancake (Pine Grove, Pa./Pine Grove) yielded seven runs (five earned) on five hits in 5.0 innings.

The Vulcans jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first behind two errors, two walks, one single and a sacrifice bunt before the Bobcats evened the score in the bottom of the inning with a two-run homer by center fielder Kashilia Young. Cal U reclaimed the lead in the second behind RBI singles by junior right fielder Alyson Johnson (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central), senior first baseman Sarah Spiering (Upper Burrell, Pa./Burrell) and junior left fielder Kristen McKenzie (Senneville, Quebec/St. Thomas), 5-2.

Cal U then added to its lead in the third with a RBI double by junior shortstop Jillian Russell (London, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic) and a RBI single by Spiering. The Bobcats countered with a two-run homer by first baseman Dana Goguen in the bottom of the third before adding a run in the fifth and sixth to tie the game at 7-7.

Five Vulcans finished with multi-hit games on Friday with Lia, Spiering and McKenzie each also tallying two RBI. Lia and Russell both scored three runs in the loss, while senior center fielder Merissa Daley (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair) finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Bobcats' reliever Jacqui Omichinski earned the win after allowing two runs (both earned) on three hits and registering six strikeouts in 5.2 innings.

Cal U continues play at the Salem Invitational tomorrow, Saturday, March 20, when it faces Charleston (W.Va.) and Fairmont State.