SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Feb. 11) – The California University of Pennsylvania softball team scored six runs with two outs in the fifth inning on Sunday morning to earn a 9-6 victory over Cameron (Okla.) to close play at the NCAA Division II College Classic hosted by St. Mary's (Texas).
With the win, the Vulcans improve to 1-3 overall after playing three teams that qualified for the NCAA Tournament last year. Meanwhile, the Aggies fall to 8-2 this season behind a 4-1 mark at the weekend in Texas.
Freshman third baseman
Brooke Wilson (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny), senior left fielder
Carlee Wickstrom (Canonsburg, Pa./Peters Township) and senior center fielder
Jacquelyn Fowler (Grove City, Ohio/Central Crossing) combined for eight hits, five RBI and five runs scored. Wilson went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer from the leadoff spot, while Wickstrom finished 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and two runs scored from the cleanup position. Fowler added three hits, one RBI and two runs scored in the victory.
The Aggies jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first behind a three-run homer by third baseman Annie Combs. Cameron threatened to add to its lead in the second with runners on first and second before Cal U made a pitching change to junior
Taylor Robblee (Woodstock, Ontario/College Avenue) with two outs. Robblee induced a comebacker to end the inning and the Vulcans answered in the bottom half, as freshman second baseman
Alexa Pastor (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) delivered a two-run double with two outs.
Cal U trimmed the deficit to 4-3 in the third following back-to-back, two-out hits with Wickstrom scoring from first on a double by Fowler. The Vulcans batted around in the bottom of the fourth and scored six runs with two outs after the inning started with an error. With a runner on second and two outs, Wilson gave Cal U the lead with a two-run homer, the first of her career. Senior shortstop
Emily Price (Warren, Ohio/Howland) then followed with a single and scored from first on a single by sophomore designated player
Paige Wilson (Warren, Pa./Warren). Wickstrom followed with a two-run homer, her first of the year after hitting 23 homers with Seton Hill from 2014-16. Fowler then reached on an infield single and scored from first on a double by senior catcher senior
Kaylyn Roose (Akron, Ohio/Revere).
In the top of the sixth, the Aggies collected three-straight singles to cut the deficit to 9-5 before adding another run in the inning on a sacrifice fly.
Robblee (1-2) earned the victory after allowing two runs (both earned) on four hits and two walks in 5.1 innings of relief. She also recorded a season-high six strikeouts in the contest. Cameron starter Rylee Willmon was saddled with the loss after surrendering nine runs (three earned) on 11 hits in 4.0 innings.
The Vulcans were scheduled to play Texas Woman's on Sunday afternoon, however, due to low temperatures and wind chill the game was cancelled.
Cal U is idle until it plays 10 games from March 10-15 at the PFX Spring Games in Clermont, Florida.