GREENSBURG, Pa. (April 16) – The California University of Pennsylvania softball team used a two-run homer by sophomore catcher
Brooke Wilson (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegeny) and a complete-game shutout by senior
Taylor Robblee (Woodstock, Ontario/College Avenue) to claim a doubleheader split versus Seton Hill in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action on Tuesday afternoon, suffering a 9-2 loss in Game 1 and earning a 2-0 victory in Game 2.
With the split, the Vulcans stand at 10-18 overall with a 6-6 record in divisional play. Cal U sits in a tie for third place in the PSAC West standings and two games back of first place with four divisional doubleheaders left this year. Meanwhile, the Griffins move to 23-13 this season behind an 8-4 mark in league play.
Robblee improved to 7-6 in the circle this spring while tossing her eighth complete game, including three shutouts. She scattered seven hits and issued no walks over 7.0 innings (85 pitches) while tallying four strikeouts. Robblee forced Seton Hill to leave five runners in scoring position, as she now ranks third in the conference with a 1.55 ERA.
The Griffins collected back-to-back, two-out hits in the top of the first before Robblee ended the inning with a strikeout. In the second, Seton Hill started the inning with consecutive singles before a sacrifice bunt advanced both runners into scoring position. Robblee then halted the threat with a strikeout and a ground-out. The Vulcans drew a pair of walks in the bottom half before a fielder's choice closed the inning.
Cal U again threatened in the third with Robblee lacing a triple off the right-center field wall with one out before a strikeout and ground-out ended the inning. The Griffins started the fifth with a single and advanced the runner to second on a sacrifice bunt before Robblee induced a fly-out and strikeout.
The Vulcans broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth after freshman second baseman
Kaitlyn Corle (Hopewell, Pa./Northern Bedford) reached on a throwing error on a bunt attempt. Corle advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt before Wilson delivered a two-run homer, her third of the season. Cal U later had runners on the corners with two outs before a foul-out down the left-field line ended the inning. In the top of the seventh, Seton Hill led off with an infield single and the runner advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and a two-out infield single. The Vulcans then sealed the victory with a fly-out.
Robblee collected three of the team's five hits, finishing with two singles and a triple. Wilson registered her 11th extra-base hit of the year with the two-run homer, while Corle reached base twice in the contest and scored one run.
In Game 1, senior
Emilee Downing (Groveport, Ohio/Groveport Madison) suffered the loss after allowing six runs (all earned) on nine hits, including three homers, in 4.1 innings (68 pitches). Seton Hill starter Devyn Terry earned the complete-game victory after yielding two runs (both earned) on five hits with seven strikeouts in 7.0 innings (134 pitches).
The Griffins took a 1-0 lead on the second pitch of the game on a solo homer by second baseman Brooke Bower. Seton Hill extended its lead to 4-0 in the top of the third behind an RBI single and a two-run homer by shortstop Christiana Skrabak. The Vulcans answered in the bottom of the inning when Robblee belted a two-run homer with two outs, as she is now tied for second in the PSAC this spring with eight homers.
In the fifth, Seton Hill countered with a two-run homer by designated player Chelsea Rohan to take a 6-1 lead. The Griffins later scored three runs in the sixth after five-straight batters reached with two outs.
Robblee reached base in all three plate appearances – double, two-run homer and hit by pitch. Corle drew a walk in the third inning and also scored one run.
The Vulcans return to action on Friday, April 19, when they travel to face Gannon for a doubleheader in Erie, Pennsylvania, at 2:30 p.m.
