CLEARWATER, Fla. (Feb. 10) – The Vulcans closed play at the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Leadoff Classic on Sunday morning by playing a pair of perennial national programs, suffering a 7-1 loss to UIndy and a 6-0 loss to No. 3 North Georgia.

The California University of Pennsylvania softball team falls to 0-6 overall after playing schools from four different conferences while in Florida this weekend. The Vulcans played six teams at the event that combined for 214 victories last year, highlighted by three programs that advanced to the 2018 NCAA Regionals.

In the first game on Sunday, Cal U and UIndy were tied at 1-1 through five innings before the Greyhounds scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth. UIndy starter Halie Waters earned the victory after yielding one run (earned) on three hits with 11 strikeouts in 6.0 innings (93 pitches). Sophomore Hannah Clunk (New Cumberland, W.Va./Oak Glen) was saddled with the loss after being roughed up for six runs (five earned) in 1.1 innings of relief. Senior starter Taylor Robblee (Woodstock, Ontario/College Avenue) took a no-decision after allowing one run (unearned) on three hits in 4.1 innings (62 pitches).

UIndy opened the bottom of the second with a single and the runner advanced to third on a steal and ground-out before Robblee fielded a comebacker to end the inning. The Greyhounds took a 1-0 lead in the fourth on a two-out RBI single and the inning ended with the runner being tagged out at second after trying to advance on the throw home. Cal U then tied the score in the top of the fifth when junior left fielder Sierra Besser-Paul (Montreal, Quebec/Howard S. Billings) belted a solo homer to open the inning.

Clunk forced the Greyhounds to leave runners on first and second in the bottom of the fifth before they batted around in the sixth. UIndy broke the tie on a bases-loaded, two-run double before designated player Rachel Vander Wagen later registered a three-run homer with two outs. The inning continued due to a fielding error and the Greyhounds took a 7-1 lead on a fielder's choice.

Besser-Paul, a transfer from Tiffin, collected two of the team's three hits in the contest.

The Vulcans closed play at the season-opening event against the Nighthawks, which earned over 60 victories last year after winning the 2015 NCAA National Championship. UNG starter Bria Bush claimed the victory after scattering three hits and three walks in 4.1 scoreless innings. The Nighthawks then used three relief pitchers to complete the shutout, including junior Kylee Smith – the 2018 NFCA Division II National Player of the Year. Senior starter Carly Konopka (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) suffered the loss after surrendering four runs (three earned) on five hits in 4.0-plus innings.

Cal U threatened with runners on third in both the first and third innings before UNG scored three runs on three singles and two errors in the bottom of the third. The Nighthawks were later threatening in the fourth after a leadoff double and hit by pitch, however, the Vulcans fielded a pop-up bunt attempt and turned a double play to end the inning.

UNG manufactured a run in the fifth without collecting a hit before stretching the lead to 6-0 behind a triple and a fielding error in the bottom of the sixth.

Sophomore catcher Brooke Wilson (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) went 2-for-3 with one walk from the leadoff spot. She finished the weekend with a team-leading .500 average (8-for-16) and also boasted a .600 on-base percentage.

The Vulcans are now idle for nearly a month before returning to The Sunshine State to play 10 games from March 9-14 at the PFX Spring Games in Clermont, Florida.