QUAKERTOWN, Pa. (May 3) – The Vulcans erased a five-run deficit by scoring six runs in the bottom of the second before suffering a 13-7 loss to Bloomsburg on Wednesday morning during the opening day of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament at Veteran's Park.

With the loss, the California (PA) softball team falls to 26-23 overall and will play an elimination game against the loser of Seton Hill-Shippensburg tonight at approximately at 5:30 p.m. Meanwhile, the Huskies improve to 22-31 this season and advance to face West Chester today at 3 p.m.

The Vulcans held a 6-5 lead before the Huskies tied the score in the third and scored five runs in the top of the fourth. Sophomore second baseman Carlena Fiorilli (Mount Vernon, Ohio/Mount Vernon) went 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored, while junior Britney Wilson (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) finished 2-for-4 with one run scored. Senior Mackenzie Carson (Tucson, Ariz./Cienega) posted two hits, one run scored and one walk, while sophomore shortstop Kaitlyn Achtermeier (Gilford, Ontario/Bill Crothers) reached base three times (single, two walks) and scored twice.

Bloomsburg took a 1-0 lead in the first before scoring four runs in the second, including a two-run homer by center fielder Mia Nemeth. The Vulcans responded with six runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 6-5 lead after 11 players batted in the second. Sophomore Rylee Evans (Perryopolis, Pa./Frazier) started the inning with a solo homer, her fourth of the year, before Fiorilli later collected a two-run double to left field. After a sacrifice fly scored Fiorilli, junior Alyssa Rose (Madison, Ohio/Madison) delivered a go-ahead, two-run homer – her third of the year – to center field.

In the third, the Huskies tied the score at 6-6 on an RBI single before batting around in the fourth to take an 11-6 lead. Bloomsburg scored four runs with two outs in the fourth inning, including three runs on a double by left fielder Sage Weidlich. The Vulcans retired the Huskies in order in the fifth before adding a pair of insurance runs in the sixth to extend the lead, 13-6. Achtermeier scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the inning, 13-7, before the Vulcans ended the game with the bases loaded.

Cal used a trio of pitchers in the contest with sophomore starter Caleigh Rister (Bucyrus, Ohio/Bucyrus) allowing five runs (all earned) on nine hits in 3.2 total innings (68 pitches). Freshman Kailey Larcinese (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) was saddled with the loss after surrendering six runs (all earned) on seven hits in 2.0 innings of relief, while Rose logged 1.1 innings against the Huskies.

Bloomsburg starter Callie Sowers, who finished the regular season as the league leader in strikeouts, took a no-decision after yielding six runs (all earned) on seven hits and three walks in 1.2 innings (71 pitches). Junior Lyndsey Reinoehl earned the victory after allowing one run (earned) on four hits and three walks in 5.1 innings of relief (99 pitches).

The Vulcans continue play at the PSAC Tournament tonight with an elimination game against Seton Hill-Shippensburg at approximately 5:30 p.m.