BUCKHANNON, W.Va. (May 7) – The fifth-seeded Vulcans won a pair of games while facing elimination, including a 2-1 walk-off victory in 10 innings, on Saturday at Culpepper Field before being eliminated from the NCAA Tournament with a 5-3 loss to top-seeded and host West Virginia Wesleyan.

The No. 20 California University of Pennsylvania softball team finishes the year with a 38-6 overall record after posting a 3-2 mark this weekend in the NCAA Tournament. Meanwhile, the No. 12 Bobcats now stand at 53-9 this season and advance to the NCAA Super Regionals next week, facing second-seeded and Mountain East Conference (MEC)-rival Charleston (W.Va.).

The Vulcans opened the day with a 5-1 win against fourth-seeded Bloomsburg (45-9). Senior pitcher Alex Sagl (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Trafalgar) earned the complete-game victory after allowing one run (earned) while scattering six hits and five walks over 7.0 innings (111 pitches). She forced the Huskies to strand 10 runners on base, as Bloomsburg had at least one baserunner in each inning. Bloomsburg starter Sarah Bortner (17-7) suffered the loss after yielding two runs (one earned) on seven hits and two walks in 5.1 innings (94 pitches).

In the top of the first, senior third baseman Natalya Smarra (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox) lined a double to left-center field before scoring on a two-out single by freshman second baseman Taylor Robblee (Woodstock, Ontario/College Avenue). The Huskies had runners on first and second in both the fourth and fifth innings following two-out walks before Sagl retired the next batter to end each scoring threat.

Cal U added to the lead with a two-out rally in the top of the fifth, 2-0. Sophomore center fielder Jacquelyn Fowler (Grove City, Ohio/Central Crossing) reached on a double to left center and Robblee followed with a single, while a fielding error on the play allowed Fowler to score. In the seventh, junior designated player Kaity Finley (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) led off with a walk and advanced to second on a passed ball before Smarra later posted a single through the right side. Fowler then belted a three-run homer to straight-away center field, her eighth of the year. Bloomsburg answered with a run on a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the inning.

Fowler finished 2-for-3 with a three-run homer and two runs scored, while Smarra went 2-for-4 and scored twice. Robblee added a pair of hits and one RBI in the victory.

Cal U and West Virginia Wesleyan battled in a pitcher's duel in the second game of the day with the Vulcans earning a 2-1 win in 10 innings. In only her third start of the year, Robblee allowed just one run (earned) on six hits and three walks (120 pitches) in 9.1 innings. Senior Megahan Uher (Acme, Pa./Connellsville) earned the win to improve to 14-2 this season after recording the last two outs of the game. Bobcat starter Hannah Vet (24-4) was saddled with the loss despite allowing two unearned runs in 9.2 innings of work (111 pitches), scattering seven hits and one walk.

In the top of the 10th, WVWC led off the inning with a single and advanced the runner to second on a sacrifice bunt. Catcher Sara Scoone then delivered an RBI single to right field and advanced to second on the throw home. Scoone moved to third on a single before a walk loaded the bases with one out. Uher entered the game and induced a ground-out to sophomore shortstop Emily Price (Warren, Ohio/Howland) who threw out Scoone at home before a fly-out to Fowler ended the inning.

Sophomore right fielder Courtney Sinclair (Oil City, Ontario/Lambton Central) led off the bottom half of the 10th with a double to right-center field. Senior second baseman Erica Vallecorsa (Latham, N.Y./Shaker) then reached on a fielding error that kept Sinclair at second base. Both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt before staying at second and third on a ground-out to third base. Price then delivered a walk-off, two-run single up the middle while facing a 1-2 count against Vet.

Sinclair went 2-for-3 with one run scored and Price totaled two RBI on the game-winning single.

In the deciding game of the sub-regional tournament, Cal U scored twice in the top of the first before West Virginia Wesleyan claimed a 5-3 victory. The Vulcans used three different pitchers in the loss with Sagl (16-4) suffering the loss after allowing three runs (all earned) in 1.0 inning of relief. Junior Kaity Davis (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson) worked the final 4.2 innings (38 pitches), yielding one run (earned) on two hits and one walk. WVWC reliever Sayaka Foley (18-3) earned the victory after surrendering just one run (earned) on six hits and two walks in in 6.2 innings of work (103 pitches).

The Vulcans had the bases loaded in the top of the first before Foley entered the game. Sinclair then drew a bases-loaded walk before sophomore first baseman Alissa Petrosoniak (Mississauga, Ontario/Streetsville) delivered a two-out RBI single. In the bottom of the inning, the initial two batters for WVWC reached off Uher before Sagl entered the circle and retired the next three batters in order.

The Bobcats rallied for four runs in the bottom of the second to take a 4-2 lead. With runners on first and second, Scoone posted an RBI single before WVWC tied the score on a fielding error during a sacrifice bunt. The Bobcats had runners on the corners before stealing second and left fielder Anna Eggleston then lined a two-run double down the left-field line. Davis entered the game and retired the next two batters in order.

In the fourth, Cal U cut the deficit to 4-3 with an RBI double by Price to left-center field. The Vulcans then had runners on second and third before a line-out to third and fly-out ended the inning. Vallecorsa reached on a two-out double in the fifth, but was unable to advance. WVWC added to its lead in the bottom of the sixth with a two-out, pinch-hit single to center field, 5-3.

Smarra drew a walk to lead off the top of the seventh before Finley entered as a pinch-runner. Finley advanced to second after Fowler was called out on a close play at first after the ball was deflected off the pitcher before the second baseman recovered in time for the throw. Robblee laced the ball to the third baseman who threw to second to double off Finley and end the game.

Six different players collect a hit for Cal U in the loss.

The Vulcans graduate five members from this year's team that helped the program post a 156-32 overall record, two Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships and two PSAC runner-up finishes over the past four seasons. Cal U also posted a 15-9 record during that span in four NCAA Tournament appearances, advancing to the national semifinals last year.