Pitt-Johnstown could not crack the code in a 7-0 setback in game one before being handed a 5-3 loss to California (Pa.) in the second game of its opening PSAC West doubleheader on Sunday afternoon.

Mia Smith tossed all six innings and suffered the loss in game one for the Mountain Cats, who slipped to 3-11 on the year. The sophomore gave up seven runs on 13 hits with five strikeouts and two walks.

Senior Tori Radvan enjoyed a productive day, going a combined 5-for-7 at the plate in two games and smacking a double in the sixth inning of game one that marked the 100th hit of her career.

Radvan led off the second inning with a single and moved to second with one out on Isabella DePalma's base hit. But Vulcans' starter Caleigh Rister notched a strikeout and induced a fielder's choice to spoil one of the Mountain Cats' best chances to scratch the scoreboard.

It was just a 2-0 deficit heading to the bottom of the fourth before the Vulcans received a game-altering three-run home run from Alyssa Rose that made it 5-0. Cal tacked on two more runs on three hits in the fifth to set the final.

DePalma finished with two hits. Smith, Meghan McDonough and Kayla Miehl all notched singles.

The Mountain Cats never fully went away in the second contest despite falling into a 4-0 hole after two innings. The Vulcans added an important insurance run in the fifth to push the lead to 5-0.

Pitt-Johnstown began its climb back when Julia Mooney singled to lead off the sixth. Courtesy runner Sydney Mitchell checked in and came around to score when Miehl blasted an opposite-field two-run home run to cut the deficit to 5-2.

McDonough's one-out triple sparked a late rally that gave the Mountain Cats life in the seventh. Shaylin Hagerman's RBI groundout made it a two-run game before Mooney and Miehl worked back-to-back walks to put the tying run on base with two outs. Despite the walk to Miehl, Rister got Radvan to ground out to second to end the game.

Freshman Addison Hilligsberg threw all six innings and allowed five runs while scattering eight hits and three walks. Rose tossed 6.2 innings to collect the win in the circle for the Vulcans, who improved to 6-6 (4-0 PSAC). 

After having its first four PSAC West games postponed due to weather, the Mountain Cats will look to get back on track with a quick turnaround when they host perennial power Seton Hill in a doubleheader on Tuesday beginning at 2 p.m.