CLEARWATER, Fla. (Feb. 12) – Despite allowing runs in only one inning on Sunday morning, the No. 24 Vulcans closed play at the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Leadoff Classic with a 4-1 loss to Rollins (Fla.).
With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team finishes the season-opening event with a 2-3 record. Meanwhile, the Tars improve to 5-4 this year after advancing to the NCAA Super Regionals in 2016.
Sophomore
Taylor Robblee (Woodstock, Ontario/College Avenue) suffered the loss after allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and four walks over 6.0 innings (109 pitches). She made four pitching appearances (one start) over the weekend, posting a 2.25 ERA in 9.1 innings. Rollins sophomore Grace Street earned the complete-game victory after yielding one run (unearned) on seven hits and two walks in 7.0 innings (127 pitches).
The Vulcans threatened with a runner in scoring positon in each of the opening three innings before Street kept the game scoreless. Robblee retired the first eight batters for Rollins before the Tars had back-to-back, two-out base runners in the third on a single and walk. However, she then induced a ground-out to third to end the inning. Rollins again mounted a two-out rally in the fourth with back-to-back singles before a pop-up halted the inning.
In the top of the fifth, junior second baseman
Kaylyn Roose (Akron, Ohio/Revere) reached on a fielding error to open the inning before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt. Following a ground-out to the pitcher, junior shortstop
Emily Price (Warren, Ohio/Howland) delivered an RBI single to right field. The Vulcans then had runners on first and second following a walk by junior center fielder
Jacquelyn Fowler (Grove City, Ohio/Central Crossing) before a line-out ended the inning. Rollins responded in the bottom of the inning by scoring four runs on just two hits. The Tars drew a pair of walks before a single through the middle tied the score at 1-1. A fielder's choice loaded the bases before Rollins drew a walk to take the lead. Center fielder Chelsea Reed then delivered a two-run single to give the Tars a 4-1 lead before Robblee forced Rollins to strand runners on second and third by inducing a foul-out and ground-out to end the inning.
The Vulcans had runners on the corners in the sixth with one out before a pair of strikeouts ended the inning. Cal U made a two-out rally in the top of the seventh with back-to-back singles by Robblee and Fowler before a fielder's choice to shortstop ended the game.
Price paced the offense by going 2-for-4 with one RBI. Over the five games in Florida, she led the team with a .474 on-base percentage while hitting at a .375 clip.
Cal U is idle for nearly two weeks before returning to action on Feb. 25 with a doubleheader at Urbana.
