OKLAHOMA CITY (May 24) – The No. 21 Vulcans scored five runs in the second inning and later held a 6-3 lead before being eliminated from the NCAA National Championships with a 10-6 loss to No. 4 Dixie State (Utah) on Sunday night at Tom Heath Field on the campus of Oklahoma Christian.

With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team finishes the season with a 43-13 overall record while advancing to the NCAA National Championships for the first time since 1999. Meanwhile, Dixie State improves to 52-7 this year and will play in the NCAA National Championship for the first time in program history.

The first four batters for the Red Strom reached base to start the game and junior Alex Sagl (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Trafalgar) was pulled after allowing a leadoff walk and ensuing triple. Classmate Meghan Uher (Acme, Pa./Connellsville) then entered the circle and allowed back-to-back hits before forcing Dixie State to leave runners at second and third, but not before the Red Storm built a 3-0 lead.

In the bottom of the second, the Vulcans took advantage of a throwing error by scoring five runs (four unearned) to take a 5-3 lead. Freshman center fielder Jacquelyn Fowler (Grove City, Ohio/Central Crossing) led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Following a walk by sophomore catcher Megan Jahoda (Buchanan, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson), Cal U loaded the bases on a hard-hit single through the right side by junior second baseman Erica Vallecorsa (Latham, N.Y./Shaker). Freshman left fielder Courtney Sinclair (Oil City, Ontario/Lambton Central) drew a bases-loaded walk before Jahoda and Vallecorsa scored on a throwing error by the third baseman that allowed sophomore right fielder Kaity Finley (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) to reach and advance to second. Sinclair then scored on a ground-out before junior first baseman Lindsay Reicoff (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) lined an RBI single down the left-field line.

Uher retired Dixie State in order in the top of the third before Cal U stretched its lead to 6-3 in the bottom of the inning. Fowler again led off and reached on a two-base error before scoring on a single from freshman designated player Hailey Wilson (Delaware, Ohio/Olentangy). The Vulcans later loaded the bases with walks by Jahoda and Sinclair before the Red Strom threw home to record the second out of the inning. Cal U then left the bases loaded when the next batter flew out to center field.

The Red Storm countered with five runs in the fourth after the Vulcans committed a pair of errors in the inning, 8-6. Dixie State scored its initial run of the inning on a throwing error before collecting a pair of RBI singles. Sagl then reentered the game and the Red Strom scored on a double steal and another RBI single.

In the sixth, Dixie State added a pair of insurance runs on back-to-back sacrifice flys that were caught in foul territory down the left-field line.

Uher (10-3) suffered the loss after allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits and one walk in 3.2 innings of relief (78 pitches). Sagl took a no-decision after yielding four runs (all earned) on six hits in a combined 3.1 innings (65 pitches). Red Storm reliever Aryn Feickert (20-5) earned the victory after surrendering one run (unearned) on one hit and four walks in 5.1 innings of work (102 pitches).

Four different players collected one hit in the loss with Fowler scoring twice.

Notes:
The game was moved to the campus of Oklahoma Christian due to unplayable wet field conditions at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium; OCU recently opened an all-artificial playing surface … Cal U played in a combined 11 elimination games this post-season (10-1) … The Vulcans committed four errors in the loss … Cal U was limited to a combined six hits in two losses against Dixie State … The Vulcans were held to a .189 average (18-for-95) over four games at the NCAA National Championships … Cal U holds a 13-9 all-time record at the NCAA National Championships