• Box Score

PEMBROKE, N.C. (Feb. 10) – The Vulcans scored a run in each of the first three innings on Sunday morning to close play at the UNC Pembroke Invitational with a 4-3 victory over the host Braves.

With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania softball closed the season-opening tournament with a perfect 5-0 record. The Vulcans scored 39 runs in the five games and posted a 2.26 team ERA.

Freshman Alex Sagl (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Trafalgar) earned her second win of the weekend, yielding one run (earned) on three hits in 6.0 innings. She led the team this weekend with a 0.68 ERA and 11 strikeouts while working 10.1 innings in North Carolina.

In the top of the first, the Braves started the game with a leadoff homer before the Vulcans tied the score with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning. Cal U took a 2-1 lead in the second when sophomore shortstop Breanna Morris (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central) started the inning with a double and scored on a fielding error. In the bottom of the third, the Vulcans added to the lead with a solo homer by freshman first baseman Lindsay Reicoff (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley), who posted a team-best .625 average (10-for-16) and seven RBI.

Cal U added an insurance run in the sixth with a RBI single by freshman third baseman Natalya Smarra (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox ), 4-2. In the seventh, UNCP collected a two-run single with two out and had runners in scoring position before Sagl reentered the game and induced a fly-out to seal the victory.

Reicoff and Smarra each collected a pair of hits in the victory and Reicoff registered two RBI.

Braves junior Natlie Klemann (2-2) tossed a complete game in the loss, allowing four runs (two earned) on eight hits and two walks.

The Vulcans return to action next weekend at the Shaw Tournament in Raleigh, N.C., playing five games from Feb. 15-17.