QUAKERTOWN, Pa. (May 4) – The Vulcans scored twice in the bottom of the seventh before stranding the game-winning run in scoring position on Wednesday night in a 4-3 loss to Shepherd in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament at Veteran's Park.

With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team falls to 22-12 overall and will play an elimination game against Gannon tomorrow, Thursday, May 5, at 10 a.m. Meanwhile, the Rams improve to 18-18 this season and will face Mercyhurst in the second day of the double-elimination tournament.

Junior center fielder Mackenzie Carson (Tucson, Ariz./Cienega) went 2-for-3 with one RBI. Freshman pitcher Caleigh Rister (Bucyrus, Ohio/Bucyrus) and freshman left fielder Carlena Fiorilli (Mount Vernon, Ohio/Mount Vernon) both reached base safely twice while at the top of the lineup.

The Vulcans trailed 4-1 entering the bottom of the seventh on Wednesday. Sophomore first baseman Shayna Postler (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) started the inning with a walk before junior designated player Izzy Farmer (West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin) later collected a single. Carson followed with an RBI single to left field and Rister then drew a walk to load the bases. Following a pitching change, Fiorilli registered a sacrifice fly to trim the deficit to 4-3. Rister and Carson then both advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch before a pop-up ended the game.

Rister suffered her first loss since March 10 while falling to 13-3 this season. She allowed four runs (three earned) on nine hits and two walks over 7.0 innings (103 pitches). Shepherd sophomore Hannah Ruffner earned the victory, yielding three runs (all earned) on five hits and three walks in 6.1 innings (102 pitches).

After turning a double play to end the top of the first, Cal U took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the inning. Rister reached on a hit by pitch before Fiorilli drew a walk. Rister advanced to third on a fielder's choice before later scoring on a two-out RBI double by freshman shortstop Kaitlyn Achtermeier (Gilford, Ontario/Bill Crothers).

The Rams looked to counter with back-to-back singles to open the second before the Vulcans again ended the inning with a double play. In the third, the Vulcans threatened with runners on the corners after benefiting from an error before a ground-out to the pitcher closed the inning.

Shepherd started the top of the fifth with a double and single and later loaded the bases with one out. The Vulcans then recorded a force out at home before second baseman Leann Brown delivered a three-run double with two outs. The Rams stretched the lead to 4-1 in the sixth after scoring on an error.

Senior catcher Brooke Wilson (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) reached on a one-out double in the bottom of the sixth before being stranded at third base. In the top of the seventh, Shepherd again threatened with runners on the corners before a fly-out ended the inning.

Cal U returns to action tomorrow when it faces Gannon in an elimination game at 10 a.m. The Vulcans and Lady Knights split the regular-season series this year and will be meeting in the PSAC Tournament for the third time since Gannon joined the league (2013, 2015, 2021).