SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. (April 2) – Despite a pair of homers by senior
Taylor Robblee (Woodstock, Ontario/College Avenue), the Vulcans dropped both games of a doubleheader at Slippery Rock to open Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play on Tuesday afternoon, losing 2-1 in Game 1 and 9-4 in Game 2.
With the losses, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team falls to 4-14 this season with a 0-2 mark in league action. The Vulcans were playing their first games in two-plus weeks, as they last played on March 14 in Florida. Meanwhile, The Rock improves to 10-13 overall with a 2-0 record in divisional play.
Robblee belted a pair of solo homers in Game 2 on Tuesday, marking her second career multi-home run game. She now leads the team with a career-high five homers this season and is also the team's active leader with 16 career homers.
In Game 1, senior
Emilee Downing (Groveport, Ohio/Groveport Madison) was saddled with the loss after yielding two runs (one earned) on six hits with six strikeouts over 7.0 innings (118 pitches). Slippery Rock sophomore Camie Shumaker (7-6) earned the complete-game victory, allowing one run (earned) on five hits and four walks in 7.0 innings (136 pitches).
The Vulcans took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first after sophomore catcher
Brooke Wilson (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) led off the inning with a double down the left-field line. She advanced to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Robblee. Cal U later drew two walks in the first before a strikeout ended the inning.
Slippery Rock tied the score in the second despite not collecting a hit in the inning. The Rock loaded the bases on a pair of walks and an error before another error resulted in the run. In the third, Slippery Rock took a 2-1 lead on a two-out RBI single to left field. The Vulcans later stranded a runner on second in three-straight innings before being retired in order in the sixth. Sophomore shortstop
Alexa Pastor (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) started the seventh with a single and Robblee later reached on a two-out walk before Shumaker induced a pop-up to seal the victory.
Wilson collected her team-leading sixth multi-hit game of the season, finishing 2-for-3 with one run scored.
In Game 2, Robblee suffered the loss after allowing six runs (two earned) on four hits in 4.0-plus innings (78 pitches). Sophomore
Hannah Clunk (New Cumberland, W.Va./Oak Glen) surrendered three runs (two earned) on five hits in 3.0 innings (50 pitches) of relief. Rock freshman Chloe Sharman posted the complete-game victory, yielding four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks over 7.0 innings (92 pitches).
The Rock scored on a two-out error in the top of the first before the Vulcans tied the score in the bottom of the inning on a solo homer by Robblee. Cal U manufactured a run in the second to take a 2-1 lead. Pastor reached on a hit by pitch to start the inning and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and a bunt single by freshman third baseman
Kaitlyn Corle (Hopewell, Pa./Northern Bedford). Pastor then scored on a sacrifice fly before Corle stole second with two outs. Sophomore
Janelle Allison (Pleasant Hills, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) reached on a walk before a fly-out ended the inning.
In the top of the fourth, Slippery Rock capitalized on three errors to score five runs to take a 6-2 lead. The Rock loaded the bases before the Vulcans recorded the first out of the inning at home. Center fielder Cortney Claypoole then delivered a two-run double before back-to-back hitters reached on errors that resulted in three runs.
The Vulcans scored on a three-base error in the sixth before The Rock stretched the lead to 9-3 after countering with three runs in the top of seventh. Slippery Rock loaded the bases on three-straight singles with one out before Wilson picked off the lead runner at third. Pinch hitter Regan Hozak then lined a two-run double before later scoring on error. The Vulcans recorded the last out of the inning on a play at the plate after Claypoole collected another double. In the bottom of the inning, Robblee belted her second solo homer of the game with one out.
Robblee finished 3-for-3 with a pair of solo homers and one walk in Game 2.
Cal U returns to action tomorrow, Wednesday, April 3, when it travels to play a doubleheader at Edinboro, starting at 2:30 p.m.
