BUCKHANNON, W.Va. (May 6) – The fourth-seeded California University of Pennsylvania softball team suffered 6-1 loss against top-seeded and host West Virginia Wesleyan on Friday evening at Culpepper Field.
With the loss, the No. 20 Vulcans fall to 36-5 overall and will play an elimination game tomorrow, Saturday, May 7, against Bloomsburg at 10 a.m. Meanwhile, the No. 12 Bobcats advance to the finals of the winner's bracket and will play tomorrow at 12:30 p.m.
Cal U jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on two singles and one error. Sophomore shortstop
Emily Price (Warren, Ohio/Howland) reached on an error to leadoff the game before being forced out at second on a fielder's choice. Sophomore center fielder
Jacquelyn Fowler (Grove City, Ohio/Central Crossing) later reached on a single before freshman designated player Emillee Downing (Groveport, Ohio/Groveport Madison) delivered a two-out RBI single.
The Bobcats answered with three runs in the second after batting around in the inning. West Virginia Wesleyan loaded the bases on a one-out fielding error before collecting back-to-back RBI singles. The Bobcats threatened in the bottom of the fifth after the inning started with a single and double. Cal U then recorded two outs at home on the same play. Senior third baseman
Natalya Smarra (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) fielded the ball and threw home for the initial out. With senior pitcher Megan Uher (Acme, Pa./Connellsville) walking back to the circle, shortstop Ashley Honce, who reached first on the fielder's choice, ran to second and second baseman
Erica Vallecorsa (Latham, N.Y./Shaker) took the throw from Uher and went to the plate, as junior catcher
Megan Jahoda tagged out the runner attempting to score. Honce was also nearly tagged out on the play before retreating safely back to second.
In the sixth, Fowler reached on a two-out single and advanced to second on an error before the inning ended with a ground-out. West Virginia Wesleyan collected four-straight singles with one out in the bottom of the inning to stretch the lead to 6-1.
Uher suffered the loss to fall to 13-2 this season after yielding six runs (five earned) on eight hits in 6.0 innings. West Virginia Wesleyan starter Hannah Vet (24-3) earned the complete-game victory after allowing one run (unearned) on four hits and no walks over 7.0 innings.
Fowler finished 2-for-3 in the loss, as she collected half of the team's hits.
Cal U will play an elimination game tomorrow against Bloomsburg at 10 a.m. The Vulcans and Huskies have split their four meetings this season after Cal U posted a 3-1 victory on Friday afternoon.
