• Box Score vs. Bloomsburg
• Box Score vs. Gannon

QUAKERTOWN, Pa. (May 2) – Junior second baseman Shelby Lia (Whitby, Ontario/Donald A. Wilson) posted a pair of homers at Veteran's Park on Thursday afternoon, as the California University of Pennsylvania softball team suffered a 3-2 loss to Bloomsburg before rallying for a 4-1 victory against Gannon in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament.

With the split, the Vulcans move to 34-3 overall with a 2-1 mark in the double-elimination tournament. Cal U continues plays in the loser's bracket tomorrow, Friday, May 3, when it faces West Chester at 1 p.m.  The winner of the game advances to play another elimination game tomorrow at 4 p.m.

Against Bloomsburg (30-15), freshman Alex Sagl (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Trafalgar) suffered her first loss since April 3 after allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits in 6.0 innings (103 pitches) with six strikeouts. Huskies ace Cait Paine (17-9) yielded two runs (both earned) on just two hits while striking out nine in 7.0 innings (79 pitches).

Following a scoreless first, the Huskies loaded the bases on a fielding error and back-to-back singles. Bloomsburg then drew a bases-loaded walk before Sagl registered a strikeout. The Vulcans recorded the second out of the inning when the runner on third was picked off, but both base runners advanced into scoring position on the play. Sagl ended the scoring threat with another strikeout.

Freshman third baseman Natalya Smarra (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) opened the third with an infield single and Lia later belted a two-run homer, her 11th of the season. Bloomsburg answered with a two-run homer by first baseman Leann Bell in the bottom of the fourth, 3-2.

Paine retired the 14-consecutive batters following the Lia homer, while Sagl retired the last seven batters she faced. The two teams combined for only four runners left on base.

In an elimination game against Gannon (24-13), freshman Haley Bashada (Belle Vernon, Pa./Belle Vernon) earned the complete-game victory after yielding one run (earned) on five hits with no walks and four strikeouts in 7.0 innings (85 pitches). Gannon sophomore Jess Rectenwald (3-5) was saddled with the loss after allowing four runs (all earned) on seven hits and two walks in 7.0 innings (104 pitches).

The Vulcans managed at least one base runner in each of the first four innings before taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth. Smarra opened the inning with a single through the middle and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Freshman first baseman Lindsay Reicoff (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) later collected a two-out RBI double to right-center field. Gannon countered with a run on a two-out double in the bottom of the inning, 1-1.

After a scoreless sixth, Cal U took a 4-1 lead in the top of the seventh behind a three-run homer by Lia. She now leads the team with 40 runs scored and 12 homers this year, which is two shy of tying the single-season school record. In the bottom of the inning, Bashada retired the Golden Knights in order to improve to 6-1 this year.

Lia finished the afternoon with a combined five RBI on two homers.

Cal U returns to action in the league tournament when it plays an elimination game against West Chester tomorrow at 1 pm. The Vulcans and Golden Rams split a doubleheader during the regular season after the two teams met twice in the previous three PSAC Tournaments.

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 - (E1) Shippensburg d. (C2) Mansfield, 4-2 (Mansfield eliminated)
Game 8 - (W3) Gannon d. (W2) Mercyhurst, 14-2 (Mercyhurst eliminated)
Game 9 - (E2) Kutztown d. (E3) West Chester, 11-3
Game 10 - (C3) Bloomsburg d. (W1) California (Pa.), 3-2
Game 11 - (E3) West Chester d. (E1) Shippensburg, 2-0 (Shippensburg eliminated) 
Game 12 - (W1) California (Pa.) d. (W3) Gannon, 4-1 (Gannon eliminated)

Friday, May 3
Game 13 - (E2) Kutztown vs. (C3) Bloomsburg, 10 a.m.
Game 14 - (E3) West Chester vs. (W1) California (Pa.), 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