QUAKERTOWN, Pa. (May 2) – The Vulcans belted a pair of three-run homers and scored 11 runs over the initial three innings to earn an 11-8 victory over IUP on Wednesday afternoon at Veteran's Park in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament.

With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team improves to 19-16 overall and advances in the winner's bracket to face West Chester tonight, Wednesday, May 2, at approximately 6 p.m. The defending-PSAC Champion Golden Rams received a first-round bye after securing the top seed from the PSAC East this season. Meanwhile, IUP drops to 19-16 this year and will play an elimination game against Millersville tonight at 6 p.m.

The Vulcans collected a combined six hits, seven RBI and five runs scored from the top two positions in the lineup in freshman catcher Brooke Wilson (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) and senior shortstop Emily Price (Warren, Ohio/Howland). Price went 3-for-4 with a three-run homer, four RBI and two runs scored, while Wilson finished 3-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored from the leadoff spot. As a freshman, Wilson now leads the team with a .362 batting average behind 14 multi-hit games.

In the top of the first, IUP had runners on second and third with two outs following a passed ball before first baseman Amanda Parrish delivered a two-run single. The Vulcans countered in the bottom of the inning, as sophomore Paige Wilson (Warren, Pa./Warren) delivered a two-out RBI single to score Brooke Wilson from second. The Crimson Hawks answered in the second with a solo homer by shortstop Lauren Goetz to take a 3-1 lead.

Cal U then batted around in the bottom of the second, scoring seven runs on five hits and two walks. Senior center fielder Jacquelyn Fowler (Grove City, Ohio/Central Crossing) started the inning with a double and the Vulcans then loaded the bases on a walk and a bunt single. Brooke Wilson then registered a three-run double and scored on an RBI single by Price. Cal U later had runners on first and second with two outs when junior right fielder Abby Sachse (Sugarloaf, Pa./Hazleton) belted a three-run homer, her third in 10 games, to give the Vulcans an 8-3 lead.

The Crimson Hawks responded with a two-run homer by Parrish in the top of the third before the Vulcans made a pitching change to junior Taylor Robblee (Woodstock, Ontario/College Avenue), who induced a pair of ground-outs to end the inning. Senior left fielder Kaylyn Roose (Akron, Ohio/Revere) led off the bottom of the third with a double and advanced to third on a single by Brooke Wilson. Price then posted a three-run homer, her third of the year, to stretch the lead to 11-5 and prompted IUP to make a pitching change.

Both teams were held scoreless in the fourth inning before the Crimson Hawks collected a two-run single with two outs in the fifth, 11-7. Cal U attempted to mount a two-out rally in the bottom of the inning with Price reaching on a single and later advancing to second on a throwing error before a foul-out ended the threat.

In the top of the sixth, IUP had the bases loaded with one out on a single and a pair of walks before a line-out prevented a run from scoring. Third baseman Renee Wall then collected an RBI single to trim the deficit to 11-8 before Robblee fielded a ground-out to end the inning. The Crimson Hawks again had the game-tying run at the plate with two outs in the seventh before a ground-out to Price sealed the victory.

The 11 runs marked the highest run total for the Vulcans in the PSAC Tournament since the 2010 season.

Robblee (5-5) earned the victory after allowing three runs (all earned) on five hits and three walks in 4.2 innings of relief (95 pitches). Junior starter Emilee Downing (Groveport, Ohio/Groveport Madison) took a no-decision after yielding five runs (four earned) on five hits in 2.1 innings. IUP starter Lauren Zola (10-10) suffered the loss after being roughed up for 11 runs (all earned) on 10 hits and three walks in 2.1 innings (97 pitches).

Cal U will be facing West Chester later today in the PSAC Tournament for the third time in four years, while the teams have met a combined 10 times in the post-season over the last decade. Last year, the Golden Rams earned a 4-3 walk-off victory on the opening day of the tournament before capturing their first league championship in program history.

2018 PSAC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Wednesday, May 2
Game 1: (W3) California d. (C3) IUP, 11-8
Game 2: (C1) Lock Haven d. (E3) Millersville, 1-0
Game 3: (E2) Shippensburg vs. (W2) Seton Hill, 3 p.m.
Game 4: (W1) Gannon vs. (C2) Bloomsburg, 3 p.m.
Game 5: (E1) West Chester vs. (W3) California, 6 p.m.
Game 6: (C3) IUP vs. (E3) Millersville, 6 p.m. (loser eliminated)
 
Thursday, May 3
Game 7: Loser of Game 5 vs. Loser of Game 4, 12 p.m.
Game 8: Loser of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 6, 12 p.m. (loser eliminated)
Game 9: Winner of Game 3 vs. (C1) Lock Haven, 3 p.m.
Game 10: Winner of Game 4 vs. Winner of Game 5, 3 p.m.
Game 11: Loser of Game 9 vs. Winner of Game 7, 6 p.m. (loser eliminated)
Game 12: Loser of Game 10 vs. Winner of Game 8, 6 p.m. (loser eliminated)
 
Friday, May 4
Game 13: Winner of Game 9 vs. Winner of Game 10, 12 p.m.
Game 14: Winner of Game 11 vs. Winner of Game 12, 3 p.m. (loser eliminated)
Game 15: Loser of Game 13 vs. Winner of Game 14, 6 p.m. (loser eliminated)
 
Saturday, May 5
Game 16: Winner of Game 13 vs. Winner of Game 15, 12 p.m.
IF necessary, Game 17:  Game 16 winner vs. Game 16 loser, 3 p.m.