CLEARWATER, Fla. (Feb. 9) – The California University of Pennsylvania softball team was blanked in a pair of run-rule losses on Saturday during the second day of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Leadoff Classic, falling 8-0 to Florida Tech in five innings and 8-0 to West Florida in six innings.
The Vulcans fall to 0-4 this season after playing teams from three different conferences, including three games against members of the Sunshine State Conference (SSC) and Gulf South Conference (GSC).
Against Florida Tech (6-2) of the SSC, Cal U surrendered just five hits but committed three errors that led to six unearned runs. Senior
Taylor Robblee (Woodstock, Ontario/College Avenue) suffered the loss after surrendering eight runs (two earned) on just three hits and one walk in 3.2 innings (90 pitches). Panther starter Jordan Lawlis earned the complete-game victory, scattering five hits and one walk over 5.0 scoreless innings (72 pitches).
The Panthers raced out to a 5-0 lead in the top of the first on two hits, two errors and five steals despite hitting just one ball out of the infield. Florida Tech scored its opening run on a fielder's choice before a fielding error allowed another run to score. The Panthers then executed a double steal of home before later adding runs on a ground-out and a shallow single to center field.
Cal U looked to mount a two-out rally in the bottom of the inning following a hit by pitch and walk before a fielder's choice ended the inning. The Vulcans collected back-to-back infield singles in the second inning with one out before the Panthers induced a fly-out and line-out to halt the scoring threat.
Florida Tech stretched the lead to 8-0 in the fourth inning after a dropped fly-ball with two outs resulted in two runs and the Panthers then followed with a ground-rule RBI double.
Junior first baseman
Paige Wilson (Warren, Pa./Warren) finished 2-for-2 with a hit by pitch and freshman second baseman
Kaitlyn Corle (Hopewell, Pa./Northern Bedford) also collected two hits.
Against West Florida (6-1) of the GSC, the Vulcans were no-hit for the first time since March 22, 2009. Argonaut senior Tori Perkins issued just two walks and recorded seven strikeouts over 6.0 no-hit innings (95 pitches). Sophomore transfer
Hannah Clunk (New Cumberland, W.Va./Oak Glen) was saddled with the loss after allowing five runs (all earned) on seven hits and three walks in 4.0 innings (82 pitches).
The Argonauts, which are led by a first-year head coach after making the 2018 NCAA Regionals, scored on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of both the first and second innings. West Florida was poised to add to the lead in the bottom of the second with the bases loaded before Clunk forced a fly-out to end the inning.
In the fourth, West Florida scored on another sacrifice fly before stretching the lead to 4-0 on a ground-out. The Argonauts later had runners on the corners with two outs in the inning before adding to the lead as the runner on first was tagged out in a rundown that allowed the runner to score from third.
West Florida increased the lead to 7-0 in the bottom of the fifth on three hits and two errors before forcing the run-rule victory with an inside-the-park homer by left fielder Teala Howard with one out in the sixth.
The Vulcans close play at the NFCA Leadoff Classic tomorrow, Sunday, Feb. 10, with games against UIndy and No. 3 North Georgia, beginning at 9 a.m.
