QUAKERTOWN, Pa. (May 3) – The Vulcans mounted a two-out rally in the top of the seventh with the game-tying run coming to the plate on Thursday afternoon before suffering a 4-1 loss to Bloomsburg in an elimination game during the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament.

With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team drops to 19-18 overall after playing 11 games over the past week. The Vulcans dropped to ninth in the latest NCAA Division II Atlantic regional rankings released yesterday and are unlikely to receive an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament. Meanwhile, Bloomsburg, which is the second seed from the PSAC Central, improves to 20-21 this season and advances to play at least one more elimination game in the tournament.

Junior Taylor Robblee (Woodstock, Ontario/College Avenue) and Bloomsburg starter Alyssa Davies battled in a pitchers' duel for the majority of the game. Each starting pitcher allowed only one base runner over the opening three innings before Robblee collected the first hit of the contest with two outs in the top of the fourth. The Huskies collected their first hit with a leadoff single in the bottom of the inning, eventually advancing the runner to third before a ground-out kept the game scoreless.

In the top of the fifth, junior right fielder Abby Sachse (Sugarloaf, Pa./Hazleton) led off with a single but was unable to advance into scoring position. Bloomsburg loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning on a pair of singles and a walk before Robblee recorded a strikeout. However, shortstop Taylor Winkelman then delivered a two-run single before being thrown out attempting to take second on the play. Second baseman Maggie Hall followed with a two-out RBI single to give the Huskies a 3-0 lead and prompted the Vulcans to make a pitching change. Junior Emilee Downing (Groveport, Ohio/Groveport Madison) entered the circle and retired the first batter she faced to end the inning.

Freshman catcher Brooke Wilson (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) opened the sixth with a walk and senior shortstop Emily Price (Warren, Ohio/Howland) followed with a single before a throwing error on the play allowed both runners to advance into scoring position. After a pop-up, Wilson scored on a sacrifice fly by Robblee to cut the deficit to 3-1. Bloomsburg countered in the bottom of the sixth with a solo homer by third baseman Marissa Shelhamer, 4-1.

Davies retired the opening two batters in the top of the seventh before senior center fielder Jacquelyn Fowler (Grove City, Ohio/Central Crossing) lined a double to left center. Junior Logan Blake (Jordan Station, Ontario/Bishop Ridley) then reached on a pinch-hit walk to bring the tying run to the plate before Davies forced a fly-out to end the game.

Robblee (5-6) suffered the loss after allowing three runs (all earned) on five hits and two walks in 4.2 innings (77 pitches). Downing finished with 1.1 innings of relief, yielding one run (earned). Davies (9-8) earned the complete-game victory after surrendering one run (unearned) on five hits and two walks over 7.0 innings (110 pitches).

In the PSAC Tournament, Wilson led the team with a .500 average (5-for-10), five runs scored, a .545 on-base percentage and a .900 slugging percentage. Robblee appeared in all three games as a pitcher and totaled 12.1 innings.