Pitt-Johnstown rallied from a two-run deficit for an 8-7 walk-off win in game one but fell 8-5 in the nightcap to close out a PSAC West doubleheader split with California (Pa.) on Tuesday afternoon.

The Mountain Cats earned their first conference victory and now sit at 4-16 (1-5 PSAC).

Game One—Pitt-Johnstown 8, California 7

Facing a 7-5 deficit heading into their final at-bat, it took the Mountain Cats just two swings to tie the game. Mia Smith led off with a single before Jenna Tallman crushed a two-run home run to knot it at 7-all.

But it didn't stop there. Following a groundout, sophomore Meghan McDonough singled to right and stole second before tagging up and moving to third on a flyout. 

Gianna Surra walked to set up Julia Mooney, who smacked a single back through the middle to bring home McDonough and secure the victory.

Surra and Mooney each recorded singles to lead off the third to help the Mountain Cats take command early. Isabella DePalma slapped an RBI single to score Surra and make it 1-0.

Brynnae Coe, who totaled three RBIs and scored twice, followed with a 2-RBI triple to extend it to 3-0 before a sacrifice fly from Tallman capped the inning.

The Vulcans answered with four runs on four hits to even the score at 4-4. An inning later, Coe gave the Mountain Cats a 5-4 advantage with a towering solo home run to straight away center field.

California tallied three runs in the sixth and maintained a two-run lead until Tallman and Mooney became heroes just one inning later.

Smith earned the complete-game victory after allowing seven runs, three earned, on eight hits with four strikeouts compared to four walks.

Game Two—California 8, Pitt-Johnstown 5

Pitt-Johnstown never led after Cal scored twice in the third and fourth innings to go up 4-0.

But it didn't prevent the Mountain Cats from fighting back late. While they had just two hits through five innings, the bats woke up in the sixth.

Surra doubled down the right field line and Mooney singled to open the frame. DePalma was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Coe followed with a sacrifice fly that made it 4-1. Tallman's RBI groundout tacked on another run, and Krista Brunson's two-out RBI single cut the deficit to 4-3.

Four runs on three hits and an error for Cal in the seventh put the Mountain Cats in an unfavorable spot heading into their last at-bat.

Hannah Gnibus tripled to open the seventh and Surra followed with an RBI double that trimmed it to 8-4. DePalma belted an RBI double to score Surra before the comeback effort stalled out.

Mahlon Yonkin threw all seven innings and suffered the loss for the Mountain Cats. She scattered 11 hits, struck out two and walked three.

Pitt-Johnstown will visit Edinboro for a PSAC West doubleheader on Friday beginning at 2 p.m.