Box Score (HTML)

QUAKERTOWN, Pa. – The Bloomsburg University softball team held California (PA) to just two hits in its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference elimination game on Friday night at Veteran's Park, but unfortunately for the Huskies, both of those hits left the yard to lift the Vulcans to a 6-1 victory.

The loss knocks the Huskies out of the double elimination PSAC Tournament following Thursday's loss to Gannon. Bloomsburg finished its run in the tournament at 2-2 after wins against East Stroudsburg and Seton Hill. The Huskies will now await their NCAA Tournament fate with the national brackets being announced Monday morning at 10 a.m.

Hits were at a premium on Friday night. The Huskies received a double from Kayla McHale (Dillsburg/Northern) to lead off the game, but it would be their last until the sixth and one of only two hits on the night against Cal starter Alex Sagl (19-4), the PSAC West Pitcher of the Year.

After McHale was left at second base in the top of the first, California responded with a pair of runs in the home half of the inning. After a pop up to begin the frame, Emily Price worked a walk. Lindsay Reicoff then blasted a home run to center field for the 2-0 lead.

Before the first inning was over, Bloomsburg starter Taylor Parker (Dewart/Warrior Run) left the circle with an apparent injury, though she would remain in the game at shortstop. Sarah Bortner (Glenville/South Western) came on in relief and quickly settled into a groove, matching zeroes with Sagl as the innings continued to pass without any scoring.

Through the first five innings, Bloomsburg's only other opportunity for offense came in the fourth when Emily Mayhew (Perkasie/Pennridge) smashed a rocket into straight away center field, but Cal center fielder Shelby Heyd made a running grab up against the fence to rob Mayhew of extra bases.

Bloomsburg finally broke through in the sixth. McHale reached on a throwing error from the Cal shortstop with one out before a strikeout brought Caitlin O'Connor (Rockaway, NJ/Morris Knolls) to the plate with two away. O'Connor hit a mile high fly ball into shallow center that dropped before Heyd could reach it, allowing McHale to sprint around the bases and score from first to cut the Bloomsburg deficit to 2-1.

Bortner had been outstanding in relief, going 4.2 innings without allowing a hit. She began to struggle with control in the sixth, however, as a hit batter and two walks loaded the bases with one out. Cal's Jacquelyn Fowler then broke the game wide open with a grand slam, effectively sending the Vulcans into the weekend.

Sagl pitched a perfect seventh to finish her complete game two-hitter, allowing just an unearned run. She did not walk a batter and struck out seven.

Parker (14-5) was tagged with the loss after just two-thirds of an inning, allowing two runs. Bortner worked 5.1 innings, allowing four runs on just the lone hit with two strikeouts.

Bloomsburg now stands at 26-16 while California improves to 32-10. The Huskies, ranked eighth in the last NCAA Atlantic Region rankings, now will hope to hear their name called on Monday morning with the announcement of the regional bracket.