BUCKHANNON, W.Va. (May 6) – In a rematch of last weekend's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship, the fifth-seeded Vulcans opened play in the NCAA Tournament on Friday afternoon with a 3-1 win over fourth-seeded Bloomsburg at Culpepper Field.

With the victory, the No. 20 California University of Pennsylvania softball team improves to 36-4 overall and advances to face host and top-seeded West Virginia Wesleyan today, Friday, May 6, at 5 p.m. Meanwhile, Bloomsburg falls to 44-8 this season and will play an elimination game against Winston-Salem State tonight..

The Vulcans and the No. 19 Huskies battled to a pitcher's duel for the opening five innings, as senior Alex Sagl (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Trafalgar) and Bloomsburg junior Taylor Parker, the PSAC Central Athlete of the Year, kept the game scoreless. Sagl earned the win to improve to 15-3 this season after allowing one run (earned) while scattering three hits and two walks over 7.0 innings. The Ontario native also registered seven strikeouts and allowed the Huskies to advance only two runners into scoring position (one via home run). Parker (13-2) suffered the loss after yielding three runs (two earned) on six hits and four walks in 6.0 innings.

In the top of the sixth, the Vulcans took the lead on a leadoff homer by sophomore center fielder Jacquelyn Fowler (Grove City, Ohio/Central Crossing), her seventh of the season. Freshman left fielder Taylor Robblee (Woodstock, Ontario/College Avenue) then reached on a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt before moving to third. Following a strikeout, senior second baseman Erica Vallecorsa (Latham, N.Y./Shaker) delivered a two-out RBI single that was sharply hit just past the first-base bag. Bloomsburg answered in the bottom of the inning with a solo homer by first baseman Mallory Tomaschik, her fifth of the year.

Cal U added an insurance run in the top of the seventh to stretch the lead to 3-1. Junior right fielder Kaity Finley (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) opened the inning with a double and advanced to third when sophomore Emily Price (Warren, Ohio/Howland) reached on error that skipped right past the shortstop. A ground-out to the left side advanced Price to second, but forced Finley to remain at third. Fowler then reached on a fielder's choice that was fielded by the third baseman midway down the third-base line and resulted in Finley being caught in a rundown. On the play, Price moved to third and Fowler advanced to second. Robblee then reached on an infield single that allowed Price to score after three Huskies converged on the ball and left first base uncovered. Sagl retired the Huskies in order in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the victory.

Robblee finished 3-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored, while Fowler went 2-for-4 with a solo homer.

In the top of the first, Price reached on a leadoff walk and moved to third before Robblee drew a two-out walk before the inning with a strikeout. The Vulcans advanced a runner into scoring position in the second before Parker retired the next two batters to end the threat. In the bottom of the inning, back-to-back Bloomsburg batters reached on a walk and hit by pitch before Sagl induced a pop-up and registered a strikeout to end the inning.

The Vulcans again threatened in the third with the bases loaded and one out before a comebacker to the pitcher resulted in an inning-ending double play at home and first.

Cal U continues play in the NCAA Tournament today when it faces top-seeded and host West Virginia Wesleyan at 5 p.m.