QUAKERTOWN, Pa. (May 2) – Playing its second game of the day and facing the defending-league champion, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team suffered a 10-2 loss to West Chester in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament on Wednesday evening at Veteran's Park.

With the loss, the Vulcans fall to 19-17 this season and will play an elimination game against Bloomsburg tomorrow, Thursday, May 3, at 12 p.m. Meanwhile, the Golden Rams improve to 37-11 overall and will face Gannon in the second day of the double-elimination league tournament.

Cal U raced out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, as freshman catcher Brooke Wilson (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) hit a leadoff homer – her second of the year. However, the Golden Rams countered with four runs in the bottom inning, as the initial six batters of the game all reached base safely. West Chester drew a leadoff walk before back-to-back singles tied the score at 1-1. Catcher Cat Hammer then followed with a three-run homer to prompt Cal U to make a pitching change. The Golden Rams drew back-to-back walks before the Vulcans went to their third pitcher of the game in junior Taylor Robblee (Woodstock, Ontario/College Avenue). With Robblee in the circle, Cal U retired the next three batters in order to keep the deficit at 4-1.

In the bottom of the third, the Golden Rams stretched the lead to 5-1 with a bases-loaded walk before consecutive pop-ups forced West Chester to leave the bases loaded. Cal U trimmed the deficit to 5-2 in the fourth on a two-out RBI single by junior right fielder Abby Sachse (Sugarloaf, Pa./Hazleton). The Golden Rams answered with a two-run homer by designated player Alyssa Herion to take a 7-2 lead before junior starter Emilee Downing (Groveport, Ohio/Groveport Madison) reentered the circle. West Chester then loaded the bases on three walks before Downing recorded a strikeout and fly-out to end the inning.

The Vulcans stranded runners on the corners in the fifth before the Golden Rams collected a two-run single with two outs in the bottom of the inning to stretch the lead to 9-2. West Chester added one run in the sixth to claim the run-rule victory.

Wilson collected two of the team's four hits in the loss, finishing 2-for-3 with a solo homer.

Downing (6-5) suffered the loss after allowing seven runs (all earned) on seven hits and five walks in 2.1 innings (78 pitches). Robblee worked 3.0 innings of relief and surrendered three runs (all earned) on three hits and three walks. West Chester senior Amanda Houck, a 2017 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) First-Team All-American, earned the complete-game victory to improve to 24-3 this season after yielding two runs (both earned) on four hits with five strikeouts in 6.0 innings (107 pitches).

The Vulcans return to action tomorrow when it faces Bloomsburg in an elimination game at 12 p.m. Cal U will face Bloomsburg in the PSAC Tournament for the first time since 2016 when the teams met three times, including in the championship.

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: (W2) Seton Hill d. (E2) Shippensburg, 10-7
Game 4: (W1) Gannon d. (C2) Bloomsburg, 4-3
Game 5: (E1) West Chester d. (W3) California, 10-2
Game 6: (C3) IUP d. (E3) Millersville, 7-6 (Millersville eliminated)
 
Thursday, May 3
Game 7: (W3) California vs. (C2) Bloomsburg, 12 p.m. (loser eliminated)
Game 8: (E2) Shippensburg vs. (C3) IUP, 12 p.m. (loser eliminated)
Game 9: (W2) Seton Hill vs. (C1) Lock Haven, 3 p.m.
Game 10: (W1) Gannon vs. (E1) West Chester, 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.