QUAKERTOWN, Pa. (April 27) – In their opening game of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament, the No. 7 Vulcans scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to claim a 4-3 walk-off victory over IUP on Wednesday afternoon.

With the victory, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team, who is the top seed from the PSAC West, improves to 33-2 overall and remain in the winner's bracket of the double-elimination tournament. The Vulcans will now face Lock Haven tomorrow, Thursday, April 28, at 12 p.m. Meanwhile, the Crimson Hawks, who are the third seed from the PSAC Central, fell to 28-17 this season before later winning an elimination game.

The Crimson Hawks stranded a runner at third base in the top of the seventh before junior catcher Megan Jahoda (Buchanan, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) led off the bottom of the inning with a solo homer, her second of the year and second in as many games, to tie the score at 3-3. Following a ground-out, sophomore shortstop Emily Price (Warren, Ohio/Howland) reached on a single up the middle and advanced to second on another ground-out. Sophomore Jacquelyn Fowler (Grove City, Ohio/Central Crossing) then lined a 3-1 pitch to left-center field to allow Price to score the game-winning run.

Jahoda went 2-for-3 with a solo homer and two RBI, while Price collected two hits and scored twice. Fowler also tallied a pair of hits, as the Vulcans earned their fifth walk-off win in post-season play over the last three years. Only a sophomore, Fowler has now delivered a walk-off hit three times in her career.

IUP was retired in order in each of the first three innings before Cal U mounted a two-out rally in the bottom of the third. Price reached on a double to center field and advanced to third on a wild pitch before senior third baseman Natalya Smarra (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) followed with an RBI single.

The Crimson Hawks countered with three runs in the fourth to take a 3-1 lead. Shortstop Hannah Mercer led off with a double and advanced to third on an error at first base on a sacrifice bunt that allowed the batter to reach. First baseman Allison Viguers then reached on a fielder's choice to second base that allowed Mercer to score. Following a foul-out, IUP advanced both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt before second baseman Rachel Francis delivered a two-run single to left-center field.

Cal U answered with one run on three singles in the bottom of the fourth to trim the deficit to 3-2. Freshman left fielder Taylor Robblee (Woodstock, Ontario/College Avenue) led off with a single and moved to second on a wild pitch after a failed bunt attempt. Robblee was then tagged out at third on a fielder's choice that allowed senior first baseman Lindsay Reicoff (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) to reach base. Senior second baseman Erica Vallecorsa (Latham, N.Y./Shaker) followed with a single to move Reicoff to second before Jahoda collected an RBI single through the right side.

In the sixth, IUP had runners on first and second with one out before Jahoda threw out the lead runner on a double-steal attempt. The Crimson Hawks later had a runner at third on a wild pitch before the threat ended with a strikeout. In the top of the seventh, the leadoff hitter for IUP reached on a dropped fly-ball before Cal U made a pitching change. The runner eventually advanced to third on a wild pitch and a ground-out before the inning ended with a strikeout.

Senior Meghan Uher (Acme, Pa./Connellsville) earned the win to improve to 12-0 this year after working 1.0 inning of scoreless relief. Classmate Alex Sagl (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Trafalgar) took a no-decision after yielding three runs (one earned) on four hits with no walks in 6.0 innings (84 pitches). IUP starter Brooke Darling (13-7) suffered the loss after allowing four runs (all earned) on 10 hits over 6.2 innings (128 pitches).

The Vulcans, who won the league championship in each of the last two years, continue play in the PSAC Tournament tomorrow against Lock Haven, the second seed from the PSAC Central, at 12 p.m.

2016 PSAC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Wednesday, April 27
Game 1: (E3) Millersville d. (W3) Slippery Rock, 4-2
Game 2: (W1) California d. (C3) IUP, 4-3
Game 3: (C2) Lock Haven d. (E2) Kutztown, 4-3
Game 4: (W2) Gannon d. (E1) West Chester, 3-1
Game 5: (C1) Bloomsburg d. (E3) Millersville, 1-0
Game 6: (C3) IUP d. (W3) Slippery Rock, 2-1 (Slippery Rock eliminated)

Thursday, April 28 -- ** NEW START TIMES **
Game 7:  (E3) Millersville vs. (E1) West Chester, 10 p.m. I LS
Game 8:  (E2) Kutztown vs. (C3) IUP (loser eliminated), 10 p.m. I LS
Game 9:  (C2) Lock Haven vs. (W1) California, 12 p.m. I LS
Game 10:  (W2) Gannon vs. (C1) Bloomsburg, 12 p.m. I LS
Game 11:  Game 9 loser vs. Game 7 winner (loser eliminated), 2 p.m. I LS
Game 12:  Game 10 loser vs. Game 8 winner (loser eliminated), 2 p.m. I LS
 
Friday, April 29
Game 13:  Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 12 p.m. I LS
Game 14:  Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner (loser eliminated), 3 p.m. I LS
Game 15:  Game 13 loser vs. Game 14 winner (loser eliminated), 6 p.m. I LS

Saturday, April 30
Game 16:  Game 13 winner vs. Game 15 winner, 12 p.m. I LS
IF necessary, Game 17:  Game 16 winner vs. Game 16 loser I LS