TUCSON, Ariz. (Feb. 15) – The California University of Pennsylvania softball team claimed a split on Saturday afternoon during the second day of the Cactus Classic, posting a 5-3 victory against Western New Mexico before suffering an 8-4 loss against Fort Lewis (Colo.).

With the split, the Vulcans move to 1-3 overall after playing teams from four different states and three different conferences.

Against Western New Mexico of the Lone Star Conference (LSC), freshman Ellie Lobdell (Warren, Pa./Warren) earned a complete-game victory while making her first career start. She yielded three runs (one earned) while scattering nine hits and three walks in 7.0 innings (123 pitches). Lobdell holds a 1.14 ERA over 12.1 innings pitched while making a pair of appearances in Arizona.

Cal U took a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first after six-straight batters reached base safely. Sophomore third baseman Makayla Munchinski (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) started the rally with a single before later scoring on an RBI double by senior center fielder Sierra Besser-Paul (Montreal, Quebec/Howard S. Billings). Freshman designated player Izzy Farmer (West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin) followed with an RBI single before junior shortstop Alexa Pastor (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) later delivered a two-run single.

The Mustangs (7-6) answered with one run in the top of the second before the Vulcans responded in the bottom of the inning with a solo homer by redshirt junior Paige Wilson (Warren, Pa./Warren), her second career longball. Lobdell forced WNM to leave the bases loaded in the third before Cal U turned a double play in the fourth. The Vulcans left a pair of runners on base in both the fourth and sixth innings before the Mustangs rallied to score twice in the top of the seventh after the inning started with an error.

Munchinski went 2-for-4 with one run scored, while Wilson scored a pair of runs in the victory.

Against Fort Lewis of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC), Cal U scored four runs in the top of the fifth to tie the score at 4-4. However, the Skyhawks (3-5) answered with one run in the bottom of the inning before adding three runs in the sixth.

Fort Lewis took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a three-run homer by pitcher Brianna Leavell. The Skyhawks added an unearned run in the second before leaving a runner in scoring position in each of the next two innings.

In the top of the fifth, freshman second baseman Kira Hillhouse (Erie, Pa./McDowell) and sophomore left fielder Christiana Czegan (Mount Pleasant, Pa./Mount Pleasant) collected back-to-back singles before Pastor drew a walk. Junior catcher Brooke Wilson (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) then registered a triple with the bases loaded before scoring on a single by Paige Wilson. The Skyhawks reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the inning with a single before they left the bases loaded after consecutive pop-ups, 5-4. Fort Lewis added three insurance runs in the sixth after benefiting from a pair of errors.

Junior Hannah Clunk (New Cumberland, W.Va./Oak Glen) suffered the loss after allowing seven runs (five earned) on 10 hits and three walks in 5.1 innings (96 pitches).

The Vulcans close play in Arizona tomorrow, Sunday, Feb. 16, when they face St. Mary's (Texas) and Eastern New Mexico, starting at 12 p.m. EST.