BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (May 6) – The Vulcans held a two-run lead with two outs in the top of the seventh on Wednesday afternoon before allowing a pair of homers in a 5-4 loss against West Chester during the opening day of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament at Grand Slam Park.
With the loss, the California (PA) softball team falls to 19-28 overall and will play an elimination game against Seton Hill tomorrow, Thursday, May 7. Meanwhile, the Golden Rams improve to 28-23 this season and advanced to face Kutztown later on Wednesday.
The Vulcans held a 3-1 lead entering the seventh inning and senior
Cheyenne Beayon recorded back-to-back strikeouts to open the inning. West Chester then started the two-out rally with a single before first baseman Gianna Liciardello belted a game-tying, two-run homer. The inning continued with another single before Cal made a pitching change to freshman
Abigail Singer, who walked the first batter she faced. Right fielder Mairead Hopkins then delivered a go-ahead, three-run homer to give West Chester a 5-3 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, sophomore catcher
Kirra Davis posted a solo homer before the game ended on a double play.
Davis was one of three player to collect a multi-hit game, as she recorded her 13th homer of the season. She now has tallied the most homers in a season Lindsay Reicoff set the single-season school record with 19 homers in 2015. Sophomore third baseman
Makayla Jerin finished with two hits, one RBI and one walk, while senior first baseman
Makaylia Schlosser added two hits.
West Chester left a pair of runners in scoring position in the top of the second before Cal took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Jerin. The Golden Rams tied the score in the fourth on a bases-loaded fielder's choice, 1-1. In the bottom of the inning, Cal capitalized on multiple fielding errors by scoring a pair of unearned runs to reclaim the lead by a 3-1 margin.
The Golden Rams threatened multiple times in the fifth inning. The initial three batters reached base before a double play resulted in force outs at home and first base. However, West Chester again loaded the bases on a hit by pitch before a runner's interference call on the next batter ended the inning. In the sixth, West Chester led off with a double before stranding the runner at third base.
Beayon (2-4) suffered the loss after surrendering three runs (all earned) on five hits and two walks in 2.2 innings of relief. Freshman starting pitcher
Indyana Bolyea took a no-decision after yielding one run (earned) on four hits in 4.0-plus innings (80 pitches).
The Vulcans and Griffins will meet in the PSAC Tournament for the first time since 2023 when Cal earned an extra-inning, walk-off victory in an elimination game. Seton Hill suffered a run-rule loss to Shippensburg on Wednesday. The Vulcans and Griffins split both doubleheaders during the regular season.
