OKLAHMOA CITY (May 23) – Behind a three-run, two-out rally in the seventh inning, the No. 21 California University of Pennsylvania softball team claimed a 7-6 extra-inning victory against No. 20 Central Missouri before earning a 2-1 win over No. 10 Indianapolis on Saturday afternoon – both while facing elimination.

With the victories, the Vulcans improve to 43-12 overall behind a 10-0 record in elimination games this post-season. Cal U advances to face No. 4 Dixie State (Utah) tomorrow, Sunday, May 24, at 3:30 p.m. EST in a rematch of Thursday's contest on the first day of the NCAA National Championships. The Vulcans will have to defeat the Red Strom, which is unbeaten in the double-elimination tournament, twice to advance to the championship on Monday, May 25.

Against Central Region-Champion Central Missouri (49-16), Cal U trailed 6-3 entering the bottom of the seventh. Freshman left fielder Courtney Sinclair (Oil City, Ontario/Lambton Central) led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a ground-out. Following a strikeout, junior first baseman Lindsay Reicoff (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) reached on an infield single that deflected off the shortstop's glove to hold Sinclair at third. Junior third baseman Natalya Smarra (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) then delivered a full-count RBI single to right field that allowed Reicoff to advance to third. Freshman center fielder Jacquelyn Fowler (Grove City, Ohio/Central Crossing) then reached on an infield single between the first and second basemen to cut the deficit 6-5. With runners on first and second, freshman designated player Hailey Wilson (Delaware, Ohio/Olentangy) tied the game with an RBI single to left center.

In the eighth, the Jennies opened the inning with a single through the left side and the runner advanced into scoring position on a stolen base. Junior Alex Sagl (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Trafalgar) then reentered the circle and UCM moved the runner to third with a sacrifice bunt before Sagl recorded the second out via strikeout. With a 1-2 count on the Jennies' No. 9 hitter, the Vulcans moved Sinclair between shortstop and second base and played with five infielders – Fowler moved to left and junior Kaity Finley (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) went to center, leaving right field unattended. Sagl then forced a pop-up to Vallecorsa at second base to end the inning.

Vallecorsa led off the bottom of the inning with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Sinclair. The UCM second baseman made a leaping catch of a liner from Finley for the second out in the eighth. Freshman shortstop Emily Price (Warren, Ohio/Howland) then lifted the Vulcans to a 7-6 walk-off victory with a two-out single to right field.

Price went 3-for-4 with two RBI and Smarra finished 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored. The Nos. 8-9 hitters in the lineup, Vallecorsa and Sinclair each scored twice with Sinclair also drawing two walks.

Sagl earned the victory after allowing six runs (all earned) on six hits and three walks in a combined 5.0 innings (120 pitches). Fellow junior Meghan Uher (Acme, Pa./Connellsville) tossed 3.0 innings of two-hit, scoreless relief while making her first appearance since May 9. UCM senior Jakki Prater (15-8) suffered the loss after yielding four runs (all earned) on seven hits in 3.1 innings (72 pitches) of relief.

The Jennies scored the game's first run on a passed ball in the top of the third before later adding a two-run single with the bases loaded. Sagl then registered back-to-back strikeouts before inducing a comebacker to end the inning. In the fourth, Cal U had runners on second and third with one out before a line-out and ground-out ended the threat.

UCM stretched its lead to 6-0 with back-to-back homers by Prater and first baseman Lauren Mabe before Uher entered the game and retired the next three batters in order. In the bottom of the inning, the Vulcans answered with three runs on three hits and two walks. Vallecorsa and Sinclair drew back-to-back walks with one out before Finley collected an RBI single up the middle. Price followed with an RBI double and Finley then scored on a sacrifice fly from Reicoff.

Against Midwest Region-Champion Indianapolis (48-15), Sagl battled fellow National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American Morgan Foley in a 2-1 pitchers' duel. Sagl (29-5) scattered eight hits and allowed one run (earned) with no walks over 7.0 innings (116 pitches). Foley, who leads NCAA Division II in strikeouts, surrendered two runs (both earned) on two hits and four walks in 6.0 innings (90 pitches).

The Vulcans mounted a two-out rally in the bottom of the third to score their only runs of the game. Sinclair reached on a single through the middle before Cal U drew back-to-back, two-out walks. Reicoff then delivered a two-run single to right center to give the Vulcans a 2-0 lead.

In the sixth, Indianapolis cut the deficit to 2-1with back-to-back singles with the initial runner moving to second on an illegal pitch when Sagl slipped in the circle. The Greyhounds had at least one base runner in every inning except the second and finished the game with seven runners left on base.

Cal U returns to action at the NCAA National Championships tomorrow when it faces Dixie State for the second time in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The game is slated to start at 3:30 p.m. EST.

Notes:
The Vulcans now hold a 13-8 all-time record at the national championships … Indianapolis posted an 8-0 run-rule victory over Cal U in March while the teams were in Florida … The Vulcans scored six of their nine combined runs on Saturday with two outs … Price was held hitless against Indianapolis to snap her 12-game hitting streak, which was the longest on the team this season