MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (Feb. 19) – The No. 4 California University of Pennsylvania softball team claimed a split on Friday while competing at the Snowbird Tournament, suffering a 3-2 loss to New Haven before claiming an 18-1 run-rule victory over West Liberty.
In the opening game of the day, New Haven took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on just one hit – a leadoff triple. The Vulcans looked to answer in the bottom of the inning with back-to-back walks before the Chargers registered back-to-back strikeouts. Cal U then loaded the bases on a fielder's choice before a strikeout ended the first inning.
The Chargers added to their lead in the third when a two-out throwing error allowed a runner to score from second. In the bottom of the fifth, junior right fielder
Kaity Finley (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) led off with a single before a walk and hit by pitch loaded the bases with no outs. Cal U then cut the deficit to 3-2 with back-to-back RBI ground-outs before a strikeout ended the inning.
Senior pitcher
Alex Sagl (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Trafalgar) forced New Haven to strand runners in scoring position in the final two innings, including second and third in the top of the seventh. In the bottom of the inning, sophomore shortstop
Emily Price (Warren, Ohio/Howland) led off with a double before junior
Lindsay Reicoff (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) reached on a hit by pitch. However, New Haven retired the next three batters in order to preserve the victory.
Senior left fielder
Erica Vallecorsa (Latham, N.Y./Shaker) collected two of the team's five hits, going 2-for-3 while hitting No. 9 in the lineup. Price and Reicoff each reached base three times in the loss with Price drawing two walks and Reicoff was hit twice. The Vulcans had at least one base runner in every inning and finished 0-for-16 with runners on base (0-for-12 with runners in scoring position).
Sagl suffered the loss after allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits in 7.0 innings (118 pitches) with nine strikeouts. New Haven senior Nicole King scattered five hits and yielded two runs (both earned) over 7.0 innings (157 pitches), while totaling 11 strikeouts.
Against West Liberty the Vulcans scored five runs in the opening two innings before scoring nine runs in the third after sending 14 batters to the plate. Cal U batted around again in the fourth, scoring four runs.
Cal U returns to action tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 20, when it faces Winston-Salem State and Felician (N.J.) in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, starting at 10 a.m.
