SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Feb. 10) – After suffering a 9-0 run-rule loss to Tarleton State (Texas), the Vulcans held a 4-3 lead with two outs in the bottom of the seventh before suffering a 5-4 loss to Eastern New Mexico on Saturday afternoon at the NCAA Division II College Classic hosted by St. Mary's (Texas).

With the losses, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team sits at 0-3 this season. The Vulcans have already played a pair of teams that qualified for the 2017 NCAA Tournament, while their three opponents totaled nearly 100 wins last year.

Against Tarleton State (9-0), the Vulcans surrendered three homers and were limited to just two hits. The Texans raced out to a 6-0 lead in the top of the first behind a three-run homer by freshman designed player Georgia Capell and a two-run homer by third baseman Karli Herron, a NCAA Division I transfer from Stephen F. Austin. Tarleton State forced the run-rule victory on Saturday by scoring three additional runs in the fifth, highlighted by a two-run homer by Capell.

Tarleton State senior Megan Rosewell (3-0) scattered two hits and tallied eight strikeouts over 5.0 shutout innings to earn the complete-game victory. In her second career start, sophomore Cierra Funke (Hampshire County, W.Va./Hampshire) suffered the loss after surrendering eight runs (all earned) on seven hits in 4.1 innings of work.

Against ENMU (5-4), Cal U erased a 1-0 deficit by scoring four runs with two outs in the top of the third inning. Junior left fielder Logan Blake (Jordan Station, Ontario/Bishop Ridley) led off with a single and advanced to third on a stolen base and a sacrifice bunt. Freshman third baseman Brooke Wilson (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) then drew a walk and advanced to second on another sacrifice bunt, which kept Blake at third. Sophomore first baseman Paige Wilson (Warren, Pa./Warren) was issued a walk to load the bases and senior designated player Carlee Wickstrom (Canonsburg, Pa./Peters Township), a transfer from Seton Hill, delivered a two-run double to right field. Senior center fielder Jacquelyn Fowler (Grove City, Ohio/Central Crossing) then followed with a two-run single to right field to cap the scoring.

The Vulcans left a pair a runners on base in the fourth before the Greyhounds trimmed the deficit to 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth on a two-out, two-run double. Cal U was unable to add an insurance run after leaving a runner in scoring position in both the sixth and seventh innings. The Vulcans made a pitching change to junior Taylor Robblee (Woodstock, Ontario/College Avenue) prior to the start of the bottom of seventh and she retired two of the initial three batters she faced. Designated player Elena Garcia then lined the game-tying double to right center before scoring the game-winning run on a walk-off single by second baseman Karina Moreno.

Junior Emilee Downing (Groveport, Ohio/Groveport Madison) took a no-decision while making her first career pitching start and only her third career pitching appearance (78 career at-bats). She yielded three runs (all earned) on five hits over 6.0 innings with four strikeouts. Robblee (0-2) suffered the loss after allowing two runs (both earned) on three hits in 0.2 inning. ENMU junior Leslie Reyes earned the complete-game victory, surrendering four runs (all earned) on five hits and four walks in 7.0 innings.

Cal U concludes play in San Antonio, Texas, tomorrow, Sunday, Feb. 11, when it faces Cameron (Okla.) and Texas Woman's, starting at 11 a.m. EST.