• Box Score

QUAKERTOWN, Pa. (May 1) – Behind a career-high 14 strikeouts by freshman pitcher Alex Sagl (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Trafalgar), the Vulcans earned a 6-2 victory against Mansfield in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament on Wednesday afternoon at Veteran's Park.

With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team improves to 33-2 overall and extends its win streak to seven games. The Vulcans will now face Bloomsburg in the tournament tomorrow, Thursday, May 2, at 1 p.m. Meanwhile, the Mountaineers fall to 25-14 and play an elimination game against Shippensburg tomorrow.

Sagl won her 10th-consecutive start to improve to 17-1 this season. She allowed two runs (one earned) and scattered five hits with one walk over 7.0 innings (123 pitches). The reigning PSAC West Pitcher of the Week set a career high with 14 strikeouts on Wednesday and now ranks sixth in single-season school history with 151 strikeouts.

After a scoreless first, the Vulcans manufactured a pair of runs in the bottom of the second. Sagl reached on an infield single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt before scoring on a RBI single by junior catcher Natalie Wideman (Mississauga, Ontario/Streetsville Secondary), who moved to second on the throw. Freshman third baseman Natalya Smarra (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) then delivered a two-out double to right-center field, 2-0.

Mansfield opened the third with a double before back-to-back strikeouts followed by a foul-out ended the inning. Junior second baseman Shelby Lia (Whitby, Ontario/Donald A. Wilson) led off the bottom of the inning with a single and sophomore shortstop Breanna Morris (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central) later belted a two-run homer, her ninth of the year, to stretch the lead to 4-0.

The Mountaineers cut into the deficit in the fourth when a runner from third scored on a throwing error with two outs on a dropped third strike, 4-1. In the sixth, the Vulcans added a pair of insurance runs on three hits and two fielder's choices to take a 6-1 lead. Sagl opened the inning with a double and was tagged out at third, which allowed sophomore center fielder Shelby Heyd (Innisfil, Ontario/Nantyr Shores Secondary) to reach base on a fielder's choice. Wideman then lined a single through the right side and both runners advanced into scoring position on an error. Freshman left fielder Erica Vallecorsa (Latham, N.Y./Shaker) followed with a two-run single through the left side.

Mansfield answered with a solo homer by designated player Ashley Inman to start the top of the seventh. Sagl later posted back-to-back strikeouts and forced the Mountaineers to strand runners on first and second, as the Vulcans sealed the victory.

Sagl was one of three players to post a multi-hit game on Wednesday, finishing 2-for-3 with one run scored. Wideman went 2-for-2 with one RBI, two runs scored and one walks, while Vallecorsa collected two hits and registered two RBI.

Mansfield starter Caitlin Klobosits (12-5) suffered the loss after allowing four runs (all earned) on five hits in 2.1 innings (49 pitches).

The Vulcans snapped a six-game losing streak in the PSAC Tournament, posting their first win in the league tournament since April 30, 2010. The winner of the double-elimination tournament earns the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Earlier this season, Cal U snapped a six-game losing streak to Bloomsburg by sweeping a road doubleheader.

PSAC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Wednesday, May 1
Game 1 - (C3) Bloomsburg d. (W3) Gannon, 7-1
Game 2 - (E3) West Chester d. (C1) Lock Haven, 4-1
Game 3 - (E2) Kutztown d. (W2) Mercyhurst, 4-1
Game 4 - (W1) California (Pa.) d. (C2) Mansfield, 6-2
Game 5 - (C3) Bloomsburg d. (E1) Shippensburg, 6-0
Game 6 - (W3) Gannon d. (C1) Lock Haven, 7-3 (Lock Haven eliminated)

Thursday, May 2
Game 7 - (C2) Mansfield vs. (E1) Shippensburg, 10 a.m. (loser eliminated)
Game 8 - (W2) Mercyhurst vs. (W3) Gannon 10 a.m. (loser eliminated)
Game 9 - (E3) West Chester vs. (E2) Kutztown, 1 p.m.
Game 10 - (W1) California (Pa.) vs. (C3) Bloomsburg, 1 p.m.
Game 11 - Game 7 Winner vs. Game 9 Loser, 4 p.m. (loser eliminated) 
Game 12 - Game 8 Winner vs. Game 10 Loser, 4 p.m. (loser eliminated)

Friday, May 3
Game 13 - Game 9 Winner vs. Game 10 Winner, 10 a.m.
Game 14 - Game 11 Winner vs. Game 12 Winner, 1 p.m. (loser eliminated)
Game 15 - Game 14 Winner vs. Game 13 Loser, 4 p.m. (loser elimiated)

Saturday, May 4
Game 16 - Game 13 Winner vs. Game 15 Winner
 * If necessary, Game 17 with be played directly after