SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. (April 29) – The Vulcans remain in contention for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament following a doubleheader split at Slippery Rock in divisional action on Sunday afternoon, suffering a 6-3 loss in Game 1 before earning a 15-0 run-rule victory in Game 2.

With the split, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team stands at 16-16 this season behind a 10-8 mark in divisional play. The Vulcans close out the regular season tomorrow, Monday, April 30, with a doubleheader at Edinboro and need a sweep to earn the final berth to the league tournament from the PSAC West. Meanwhile, The Rock moves to 24-19 overall with an 11-9 record in league play and would receive a berth to the PSAC Tournament if Cal U loses at least once to Edinboro.

In Game 2, the Vulcans mounted their second-highest run total of the season while earning the run-rule victory. Junior right fielder Abby Sachse (Sugarloaf, Pa./Hazleton) finished 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and five RBI, while junior pitcher Taylor Robblee (Woodstock, Ontario /College Avenue) went 2-for-3 with four RBI and two runs scored from the cleanup spot. Freshman second baseman Alexa Pastor (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) tallied two hits and three runs scored, while senior shortstop Emily Price (Warren, Ohio/Howland) drew three walks and scored three runs. Freshman catcher Brooke Wilson (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) and senior left fielder Kaylyn Roose (Akron, Ohio/Revere) both scored twice in the victory.

Robblee improved to 2-5 this season while making her first start since March 15. She scattered four hits and one walk over 5.0 shutout innings (79 pitches), the fourth complete-game shutout of her career. Rock starter Brooke Dawson (8-11) suffered the loss after allowing six runs (all earned) on four hits and two walks in 3.1 innings.

In the bottom of the first, Slippery Rock threatened to take an early lead after having a runner at third base with one out. Robblee induced a ground-out to the left side of the infield to keep the runner at third before a pop-out closed the inning. The Vulcans were retired in order in both the first and second innings before batting around in the third, scoring six runs on four hits. Cal U scored its initial run on a bases-loaded ground-out before adding another run on a bases-loaded ground-out. Robblee then delivered a two-run single with two outs before Sachse belted a two-run homer, her second of the year.

The Vulcans again batted around in the fourth inning, stretching the lead to 11-0 after tallying five singles and two walks. Cal U loaded the bases on three-straight singles before Roose scored on a passed ball. Robblee later drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs before Sachse posted a two-run single and senior center fielder Jacquelyn Fowler (Grove City, Ohio/Central Crossing) delivered an RBI single.

In the top of the fifth, Cal U batted around for the third-straight inning and finished with four runs to take a 15-0 lead. Senior third baseman Carlee Wickstrom (Canonsburg, Pa./Peters Township), Robblee and Sachse recorded three-consecutive RBI singles with the bases loaded.

In Game 1, the Vulcans erased a three-run deficit before The Rock broke the tie with a two-run homer in the bottom of the third before adding an insurance run in the sixth. Wickstrom finished 2-for-4 with a solo homer, her team-leading fifth homer of the year, while Pastor went 2-for-3 with one RBI.

Slippery Rock jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first behind back-to-back homers by shortstop Kaily Myers and catcher Lauren Hawley. The Vulcans answered with a pair of unearned runs in the second to cut the deficit to 3-2. Robblee started the inning with a single and Sachse reached on an error before Fowler and Pastor later delivered back-to-back RBI singles with two outs in the inning.

Wickstrom tied the score in the third with a solo homer before The Rock responded in the bottom of the inning with a two-run homer by Hawley, her second of the game, to take a 5-3 lead. Cal U mounted a two-out rally in the top of fifth with a walk by Price and single by Wickstrom before a ground-out ended the inning. Slippery Rock added an insurance run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly to seal the victory.

Junior Carly Konopka (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) suffered the loss in relief to fall to 6-6 this season, allowing two runs (both earned) on three hits in 2.0 innings. Robblee yielded one run (earned) on four hits and three walks in 3.0 innings of relief. Dawson earned the complete-game victory after allowing three runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks over 7.0 innings (114 pitches).

The Vulcans close the regular season tomorrow with a doubleheader at Edinboro, starting at 1 p.m. With two victories, Cal U would advance to the upcoming PSAC Tournament held in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, from May 2-5.