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CALIFORNIA (May 10) – The top-seeded California University of Pennsylvania softball team suffered its first loss at Lilley Field this season on Saturday afternoon, dropping a 6-3 contest to fourth-seeded West Chester in the NCAA Tournament.

With the loss, the Vulcans fall to 36-6 overall while losing their first game at home since being eliminated from last year's NCAA Tournament by the Golden Rams. Meanwhile, West Chester improves to 38-19 this season and sets a new school record for victories.

Cal U tied its season high by allowing three homers and managed just six hits in the loss. Freshman Kaity Davis (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson) suffered the loss after allowing three runs on four hits in a total of 1.2 innings (34 pitches). Golden Rams senior Kim Murl (20-9) earned the complete-game victory, yielding three runs (two earned) on six hits and one walk in 7.0 innings (100 pitches).

West Chester jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a two-run homer by Murl. In the second, the Golden Rams opened the inning with three-straight hits and later added a sacrifice fly to take a 4-0 lead.

The Vulcans collected their first hit of the game when sophomore first baseman Lindsay Reicoff (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) led off the top of the fourth with a single. Junior shortstop Breanna Morris (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central) then lined a two-run homer, her fifth of the year, down the left-field line. The next two batters also reached base safely and advanced to second and third with one out before Murl ended the inning with back-to-back ground-outs.

In the fifth, senior catcher Natalie Wideman (Mississauga, Ontario/Streetsville Secondary) reached on a one-out single before the game was delayed for 104 minutes due to rain. When play resumed, Murl then retired the next two batters on five pitches to end the inning. West Chester added to its lead in the bottom of the inning with a solo homer by second baseman Jessica Schuck, which snapped a streak of 10-straight batters retired by sophomore Alex Sagl (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Trafalgar).

Cal U attempted to mount a rally in the sixth with back-to-back, two-out infield singles before a ground-out ended the inning. The Golden Rams continued to increase their lead with solo homer by first baseman Jillian Murray in the bottom of the inning, which prompted Davis (12-3) to reenter the circle. Sagl allowed three runs (all earned) with no walks in 4.1 innings (62 pitches) of relief.

In the seventh, Wideman drew a one-out walk and stole second before advancing to third on a throwing error on the play. She then scored on a sacrifice fly before Murl induced a ground-out, her 14th of the game, to seal the victory.

Six different players collected a hit in the loss with Morris tallying a pair of RBI. Wideman extended her hitting streak to 21 games and moved into a tie with Meaggan Wilton (1999) for second place in single-season school history with 22 stolen bases.

The Vulcans were scheduled to play an elimination game against fifth-seeded Bloomsburg on Saturday afternoon before additional rain forced the game to be postponed. Cal U will now face Bloomsburg tomorrow, Sunday, May 11, at 12 p.m. with winner advancing to face West Chester at approximately 2:30 p.m.

SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Friday, May 9
Game 1 - (1) California (Pa.) d. (8) Winston-Salem State, 9-0 (6 innings)
Game 2 - (4) West Chester d. (5) Bloomsburg, 1-0

Saturday, May 10
Game 3 - (4) West Chester d. California (Pa.), 6-3
Game 4 - (5) Bloomsburg d. (8) Winston-Salem State, 10-5 (Winston-Salem State eliminated)
Game 5 - (5) Bloomsburg vs. (1) California (Pa.), PPD to 5/11

Sunday, May 11
Game 5 - (5) Bloomsburg vs. (1) California (Pa.), 12 p.m.
Game 6 - (4) West Chester vs. Winner of Game 5, 2:30 p.m.
Game 7 - Winner of Game 6 vs. Loser of Game 6, 5 p.m. (if necessary)