• Box Score

DRIFTON, Pa. (April 25) – After being limited to just five hits, the No. 22 California University of Pennsylvania softball team suffered a 4-3 loss against IUP on Wednesday afternoon in the first day of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament at the ASA of PA Jake Kislan Softball Complex.

With the loss, the Vulcans fall to 32-7 overall and move to the loser's bracket of the double-elimination tournament. Cal U will now face Shippensburg in an elimination game tomorrow, Thursday, April 26, at 10 a.m. The advancing team will then play the loser of Kutztown-Bloomsburg tomorrow at 4 p.m. Meanwhile, the defending-PSAC Champion Crimson Hawks improve to 26-12-1 this season and will play Lock Haven tomorrow.

Sophomore second baseman Natalie Wideman (Mississauga, Ontario/Streetsville Secondary) collected three of the team's five hits, finishing 3-for-4 with a solo homer and two RBI. An All-PSAC West First-Team catcher last year, she leads the team with a .429 average (54-for-126) and 39 runs scored this season

After IUP was retired in order to start the game, Wideman posted her second homer of the year to lead off the bottom of the first, 1-0. The Vulcans stretched their lead to 3-0 in the second by scoring a pair of runs on two hits and two errors. Shortstop Breanna Morris (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central) opened the inning with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt before scoring when Katie Natter (Baldwin, Pa./Baldwin) reached on a two-base error. After a fielding error on the next play allowed Natter to advance to third, Wideman collected an RBI single up the middle.

The Crimson Hawks countered with a two-out RBI single in the fourth, 3-1. In the fifth, IUP tied the game at 3-3 when a throwing error allowed two runners to score. Following a pitching change later in the inning, the Crimson Hawks loaded the bases and scored the eventual, game-winning run on a sacrifice fly, 4-3.

In the bottom of the seventh, the first two batters were retired before senior left fielder Kristen McKenzie (Senneville, Quebec/St. Thomas) drew a four-pitch walk. Wideman then delivered a single through the left side to move the game-tying run into scoring position before the game ended on a fielder's choice.

Sophomore Hope Spancake (Pine Grove, Pa./Pine Grove) suffered the loss after allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and three walks in 4.0-plus innings. IUP sophomore Kelly King earned the complete-game victory, yielding three runs (one earned) on five hits in 7.0 innings.

Cal U returns to action at the PSAC Tournament tomorrow when it faces Shippensburg at 10 a.m. The Vulcans last faced the Raiders during the 2010 campaign, earning a doubleheader sweep on the road.


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 vs. (W1) California (Pa.), 10 a.m. - Field 1 (loser eliminated)
Game 8: (W3) Mercyhurst vs. (W2) Gannon, 10 a.m. - Field 2 (loser eliminated)
Game 9: (E1) Kutztown vs. (C2) Bloomsburg, 1 p.m. - Field 1
Game 10: (C3) IUP vs. (C1) Lock Haven, 1 p.m. - Field 2
Game 11: Winner Game 7 vs. Loser Game 9, 4 p.m. - Field 1 (loser eliminated)
Game 12: Winner Game 8 vs. Loser Game 10, 4 p.m. - Field 2 (loser eliminated)

Friday, April 27
Game 13: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10, 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)