CALIFORNIA (April 30) – With seeding for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) still at stake, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team closed the regular season on Sunday afternoon by splitting a doubleheader against Seton Hill at Lilley Field, posting a 5-4 victory in Game 1 before suffering a 14-5 run-rule loss in Game 2.

With the split, the Vulcans move to 21-15 overall and finish third in the PSAC West standings with a 12-8 mark. Cal U will face No. 20 West Chester, the top seed from the PSAC East, in the opening round of the league tournament in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday, May 3, at 12 p.m. Meanwhile, the Griffins stand at 21-22 this year behind a 13-7 record in divisional play to finish second in the PSAC West standings.

In Game 1, Cal U scored all five of its runs in the bottom of the fifth before forcing Seton Hill to strand the go-ahead run in scoring position in the seventh. Senior Portia McBride (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) improved to 8-4 this season and recorded all 21 outs despite leaving the circle in the seventh. She allowed four runs (all earned) on six hits in 7.0 innings (89 pitches) with no walks and six strikeouts. Seton Hill starter Amanda Huff (13-8) suffered the loss after surrendering five runs (all earned) on six hits in 4.1 innings (83 pitches).

The Griffins stranded runners in scoring position in both the second and the fourth before the Vulcans took a 5-0 lead in the fifth. Senior right fielder Kaity Finley (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) led off with an infield single and sophomore left fielder Logan Blake (Jordan Station, Ontario/Bishop Ridley) reached on a hit by pitch. Following a sacrifice bunt, junior shortstop Emily Price (Warren, Ohio/Howland) delivered an RBI double and junior first baseman Hailey Wilson (Delaware, Ohio/Olentangy) collected an RBI single. Sophomore third baseman Taylor Robblee (Woodstock, Ontario/College Avenue) then belted a three-run homer, her third of the year, to highlight the inning.

Seton Hill answered in the sixth with a two-out, three-run homer by left fielder Paige Hertzog that hit off the left-field foul pole. The Griffins then mounted another rally in the top of the seventh after the leadoff hitter reached on a single. Following a soft line-out, Cal U made a pitching change and Seton Hill responded with a single and an RBI double. McBride then reentered the circle and Robblee recorded an out at first on a bunt attempt while forcing both runners to hold. The game then ended with a fly-out to deep center field, as the go-ahead run was left in scoring position.

In Game 2, Seton Hill scored six runs in the top of the second before earning the run-rule victory – the first against Cal U by a PSAC West opponent since the 2011 season. Senior catcher Megan Jahoda (Buchanan, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) went 2-for-3 with a solo homer and two RBI, while Price finished 2-for-2 with two RBI, one run scored and one walk.

The Griffins jumped out to a 3-0 lead after collecting five hits in the top of the first before the Vulcans countered with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Price collected a leadoff single before Wilson drew a walk and both runners then advanced on a sacrifice bunt. Following a sacrifice fly, Jahoda delivered a two-out RBI double to left center-field.

Seton Hill responded by batting around in the top of the second, scoring six runs on four hits to take a 9-2 lead. The Griffins added three unearned runs in the fourth before the Vulcans cut the deficit to 12-4 in the bottom of the inning on a two-run double by Price with two outs. Seton Hill countered with two more runs in the fifth before Jahoda belted an opposite-field solo homer, her second of the year, in her final career at-bat at Lilley Field.

Senior Kaity Davis (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson) fell to 7-6 this season after being roughed up for five runs (all earned) on seven hits in just 1.1 innings. Seton Hill starter Leighann Pettis (6-10) earned the victory after yielding four runs (all earned) on four hits and three walks in 3.2 innings.

The Vulcans open play in the PSAC Tournament on Wednesday in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, when they face West Chester at 12 p.m.