Box Score

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mounties Drop Playoff Opener 6-2 in No. 7 Cal – Klobosits Sets Single Season Strikeout Record

QUAKERTOWN – Senior Caitlin Klobosits broke the single-season strikeout record and freshman Ashley Inman belted her third home run of the year, but it wouldn't be enough to overcome a 10-hit offensive attack by No. 7 California as Mansfield dropped a 6-2 decision in the opening round of the PSAC Championship Tournament at Veteran's Park in Quakertown Wednesday afternoon.

Klobosits and California ace Alex Sagl teamed up for a strikeout dual early in the game. Sagl fanned four of the first six Mountaineers she faced while Klobosits struck out the first four California batters she faced.

Sagl got Cal's first hit of the game with one-out single in the bottom of the second. She moved to second on a sac bunt and scored on a two-out single by Natalie Wideman. Natalya Smarra followed with a double to plate Wideman giving the Vulcans a 2-0 lead before Klobosits retired the side on her fifth strikeout of the game.

Mansfield tried to counter in the Mountaineers next at-bat when Kaitlyn Harris led off the inning with a double down the right field line. But the next two batters stuck out before an inning ending infield pop-up ended the threat.

Cal scored two more runs in the bottom of the third after Shelby  Lia led off with a single and, following Klobosits sixth strikeout in seven outs, Morris hit a two-run home run for a 4-0 advantage.

The Mountaineers came right back in the fourth inning when Kate Pratt delivered a one-out double to left field. After a strikeout, senior Danielle Long had what could have been a threat ending strikeout but the ball got away from the catcher and a throwing error allowed Pratt to score Mansfield's first run to cut the lead to 4-1.

Pratt, who took over from Klobosits on the mound in the third, held California scoreless in the fourth inning.

Harris opened the top of the fifth with a single to left but the Mountaineers couldn't advance the runner into scoring position.

Mansfield threated again in the sixth when Pratt singled with one out but the Mountaineers, but Sagl fanned the next two batters to end the inning.

In the bottom of the sixth, Cal added two more runs on a single by Vallecorsa to increase the lead to 6-1.
Mansfield never gave up.

Freshman Ashley Inman led off the top of the seventh with a home run over the left field fence to cut the lead to 6-2 and Harris reached on a throwing error giving the Mountaineers a runner on first with no outs.

But Sagl struck out the next two batters before Courtney Bauder drew a walk to give Mansfield runners at first and second with two outs. Sagl got the final hitter to pop up to third to end the game.

Klobosits went 2.1 innings to be saddled with the loss, but the senior lefty struck out six over that time and now has 127 strikeouts for the season surpassing the school record of 125 set by Kelly (Morris) Shannon in 2000.

Pratt, who also threw 3.2 innings in the game, had two of Mansfield's five hits in the game including her 13 double of the season.  Harris was also 2-3 with a double. Mansfield stranded six runners to California's five during the game.

Sagl went the distance, striking out 14 and walking one, to improve to 17-1 on the year. Sagl, Wideman and Vallecorsa each had two hits for the Vulcans who improve to 32-3 on the year.