• Box Score vs. Charleston (W.Va.)
• Box Score vs. Walsh

SALEM, Va. (March 14) – In their first action in nearly three weeks, the Vulcans took a split during the opening day of the Salem Invitational on Friday, dropping a 6-3 contest to Charleston (W.Va.) before earning a 4-0 victory against Walsh.

With the split, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team moves to 4-3 overall. The Vulcans opened the year at the Shaw Challenge in Raleigh, N.C., from Feb. 22-23.

Against Charleston (11-3), the Vulcans held a 3-1 lead entering the top of the seventh when the Golden Eagles batted around in the inning and scored five runs, including four with two outs. Sophomore Alex Sagl (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Trafalgar) suffered the loss after allowing six runs (all earned) on eight hits and four walks in 7.0 innings. She tied her season high with eight strikeouts while tossing her third complete game of the season. Charleston starter Courtney Fain (7-1) earned the win after yielding three runs (all earned) on four hits in 6.2 innings, while sophomore Morgan Aguirre posted the last out of the game to record the save.

The Vulcans took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second when senior catcher Natalie Wideman (Mississauga, Ontario/Streetsville Secondary) belted a solo homer, her first since the 2012 season. Cal U added to the lead in the third on a two-run homer by sophomore first baseman Lindsay Reicoff (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley). The Golden Eagles cut into the deficit in the top of the fifth with an RBI single before leaving runners on second and third.

Charleston opened the seventh with a solo homer by left fielder Hailey Tretick before a fielder's choice started a four-run rally with two outs. The game-tying run scored on a wild pitch before the Golden Eagles added a two-run single and an RBI double in the inning. The Vulcans brought the game-tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh before the game ended on a called third strike.

Wideman registered two of team's four hits, finishing 2-for-3 with a solo homer. Sophomore shortstop Breanna Morris (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central) posted two stolen bases in the loss.

Against Walsh (7-6), freshman Kaity Davis (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson) tossed a five-hit, complete-game shutout to earn her first collegiate victory. She forced the Cavaliers to leave nine runners on base on Friday, including five in scoring position. Walsh junior Casi Rohr (4-3) suffered the loss after allowing four runs (all earned) on four hits and three walks in 7.0 innings.

The Cavaliers left runners in scoring position in each of the first two innings before the Vulcans manufactured a run in the top of the third. Freshmen center fielder Kaity Finley (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) led off the inning and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and a stolen base. She then scored on an error by the pitcher that allowed Wideman to reach base.

Reicoff added a solo homer to start the fourth before Cal U added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh. Freshman left fielder Megan Jahoda (Buchanan, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) drew a leadoff walk and sophomore pinch runner Erica Vallecorsa (Latham, N.Y./Shaker) later scored on a sacrifice fly by Morris. Wideman then delivered a two-out RBI single to increase the lead to 4-0.

Finley collected two of the team's four hits, finishing 2-for-4 with one run scored, and Wideman added a pair of RBI in the victory.

The Vulcans are scheduled to continue play in Virginia tomorrow, Saturday, March 15, when they face Virginia-Wise and West Virginia State, starting at 1 p.m.