TUCSON, Ariz. (Feb. 14) – The Vulcans opened the year with a pair of losses at the Cactus Classic on Friday afternoon, suffering a 7-6 loss to Texas Permian Basin before dropping a 4-2 contest to Western Oregon.

Against UTPB of the Lone Star Conference (LSC), the California University of Pennsylvania softball team rallied from a 6-0 deficit and had the game-tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position in the top of the seventh. Junior catcher Brooke Wilson (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) finished 3-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored from the leadoff spot, while redshirt junior Paige Wilson (Warren, Pa./Warren) went 2-for-3 with two RBI and one walk. Senior center fielder Sierra Besser-Paul (Montreal, Quebec/Howard S. Billings) collected a pair of hits and drew one walk in the contest.

The Falcons (6-5) benefited from a two-out error in the bottom of the first that led to five unearned runs on five hits and a pair of walks. UTPB added another run in the second before Brooke Wilson and Paige Wilson delivered RBI doubles in the third to trim the deficit to 6-2. In the fifth, Brooke Wilson scored on an RBI double by freshman third baseman Makayla Munchinski (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe). Paige Wilson then drew a walk before Munchinski scored from second on an error that allowed Besser-Paul to reach safely.

UTPB answered with one run on another two-out error in the bottom of the fifth that allowed the runner to score from first. The Vulcans responded with a pair of runs in the sixth to the cut the deficit to 7-6 before leaving runners on the corners. Junior shortstop Alexa Pastor (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) started the inning with a single and later scored on a two-out RBI single by Brooke Wilson. Munchinski then reached on an error before Paige Wilson followed with an RBI single.

In the seventh, Besser-Paul and freshman pitcher Ellie Lobdell (Warren, Pa./Warren) opened the inning with back-to-back singles. However, UTPB recorded consecutive strikeouts before a diving catch on a squeeze bunt ended the game.

Lobdell took a no-decision in her college debut after allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and one walk, plus tallied five strikeouts, in 5.1 innings of relief. Classmate Kierra Waywood (Yukon, Pa./Yough) was saddled with the loss after surrendering five runs (all unearned) on four hits and two walks in 0.2 inning.

Against Western Oregon of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC), the Vulcans held a 2-1 lead after five innings before allowing three runs in the top of the sixth. Sophomore transfer Kelsey Barron (La Salle, Mich./St. Mary Catholic Central) suffered the loss after yielding four runs (all earned) on seven hits in 5.1 innings. Junior Hannah Clunk (New Cumberland, W.Va./Oak Glen) logged 1.2 innings of no-hit, scoreless relief in her season debut.

The Wolves (6-3) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first before stranding a runner on third in each of the next two innings. In the bottom of the third, freshman second baseman Kira Hillhouse (Erie, Pa./McDowell) and Brooke Wilson started the inning with back-to-back walks before Hillhouse later scored on a sacrifice fly.

Cal U took a 2-1 lead in the fifth when Brooke Wilson scored on another sacrifice fly after she and Munchinski led off the inning with consecutive singles. In the sixth, the Wolves scored three runs on four singles before Clunk entered the circle and ended the inning with a strikeout and fly-out.

Paige Wilson tallied a pair of RBI on two sacrifice flies and freshman designated player Izzy Farmer (West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin) posted two of the team's four hits in the loss.

The Vulcans continue play in Arizona tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 15, when they face Western New Mexico and Fort Lewis (Colo.), beginning at 12 p.m. EST.