SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. (April 20) – The Vulcans suffered a 3-1 loss at Slippery Rock in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action on Thursday afternoon after the game was previously halted over the weekend due to severe weather.

With the loss, the California (PA) softball team falls to 19-19 this season with a 12-10 mark in league play. The Vulcans are set to close the regular season with 10 games over the next week, including a trio of home doubleheaders. Meanwhile, The Rock improves to 24-18 overall behind a 15-9 record in divisional action.

Play resumed on Thursday in the top of the fifth inning with Slippery Rock holding a 3-1 lead. The Vulcans stranded a runner at second in both the second and third innings following leadoff doubles. Slippery Rock loaded the bases in the bottom of the third on a two-out walk before a pop-up ended the inning.

In the fourth, sophomore shortstop Kaitlyn Achtermeier (Gilford, Ontario/Bill Crothers) led off the inning with a triple and scored on a wild pitch. The Rock answered with a two-out rally in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single through the middle and a two-run double to left field to take a 3-1 lead. Cal had runners on first and second in the sixth before a strikeout and ground-out halted the threat.

Both teams finished with just five hits in the contest.

Freshman Kailey Larcinese (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) suffered the loss after allowing three runs (all earned) on five hits over 6.0 innings (117 pitches). She set a season high with nine strikeouts while posting her first complete game of the spring.

The Vulcans return to action tomorrow, Friday, April 21, when they host Clarion for a PSAC West doubleheader on Senior Day at Lilley Field, starting at 2:30 p.m.