EDINBORO, Pa. (April 30) – The California University of Pennsylvania softball team secured a berth to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament on Monday afternoon by sweeping a divisional doubleheader at Edinboro, winning 3-2 in extra innings in Game 1 before posting another 3-2 victory in Game 2.

With the sweep, the Vulcans improve to 18-16 overall with a 12-8 record in league play. Cal U finished the year third in the PSAC West standings and will face third-seeded IUP from the PSAC Central in the opening game of the league tournament on Wednesday, May 2, in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, the Fighting Scots fall to 6-25 this season behind a 2-16 mark in divisional action.

Cal U entered play on Monday needing a doubleheader sweep to qualify for the PSAC Tournament, as Slippery Rock held the head-to-head tiebreaker.

In Game 1, the score was tied at 2-2 after the seventh inning to force the Vulcans to play their fourth extra-inning game since April 11. In the top of the eighth, sophomore first baseman Paige Wilson (Warren, Pa./Warren) drew a one-out walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt before freshman catcher Brooke Wilson (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) delivered a two-out, go-ahead RBI single. Edinboro looked to counter in the bottom of the inning with a one-out single before the next two batters were retired in order.

Brooke Wilson paced the offense by going 2-for-5 with three RBI from the leadoff spot.

Junior Taylor Robblee (Woodstock, Ontario/College Avenue) earned the win after yielding one run (unearned) on three hits and one walk in 4.1 innings of relief. Classmate Emilee Downing (Groveport, Ohio/Groveport Madison) took a no-decision after surrendering one run (earned) on three hits and two walks while tallying five strikeouts over 3.2 innings. Edinboro reliever Amanda Metz (2-8) was saddled with the loss after allowing one run (earned) on three hits and five walks in 6.0 innings of work.

Cal U took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second after the inning started with a walk and single. The runners were erased with back-to-back fielder's choices at third base before Brooke Wilson collected a two-run single. In the fourth, the Fighting Scots trimmed the deficit to 2-1 with a two-out double before tying the score in the fifth on a two-out fielding error that allowed a runner to score from second. Cal U threatened to break the tie in both the sixth and seventh after drawing back-to-back walks in both innings, but was unable to advance the lead runner past second. In the bottom of the seventh, Edinboro designated player Danna Heh lined a two-out double to center field before being thrown out attempting to go to third on the play.

In Game 2, Robblee (4-5) recorded her second victory of the day after surrendering two runs (both unearned) on five hits and no walks with four strikeouts over 4.0 innings. Downing earned the save after tossing 2.2 innings of scoreless relief with five of the eight outs being registered via strikeouts. Edinboro starter Carley Nasca (3-9) suffered the loss after allowing three runs (one earned) on two hits and four walks in 3.0 innings.

The Vulcans took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when junior right fielder Abby Sachse (Sugarloaf, Pa./Hazleton) drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs. In the second, senior left fielder Kaylyn Roose (Akron, Ohio/Revere) started the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt before Brooke Wilson collected an RBI double. Brooke Wilson later scored in the inning on a two-out fielding error by the third baseman, 3-0.

Edinboro nearly cut into the deficit in the bottom of the third before Roose threw out a runner at the plate that was attempting to score from second on a fielding error. The Fighting Scots trimmed the deficit to 3-2 in the fourth before the game-tying run was prevented when Sachse threw out a runner at the plate for the last out of the inning. Edinboro nearly tied the score in the bottom of the fifth before Downing forced the bases to remain loaded by recording a strikeout. The Fighting Scots again mounted a rally in the seventh inning with back-to-back, two-out base runners before a strikeout ended the game.

Wilson went 2-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored to mark her team-leading 13th multi-hit game of the season. Senior shortstop Emily Price (Warren, Ohio/Howland) also collected a pair of hits in the victory.

The Vulcans open play in the PSAC Tournament on Wednesday against IUP at 12 p.m. The double-elimination tournament will be hosted in Quakertown, Pennsylvania.