CLERMONT, Fla. (March 12) – The California University of Pennsylvania softball team closed play at the PFX Spring Games on Thursday afternoon, suffering an 8-3 loss to Northern State (S.D.) and an 8-4 loss in extra innings to Nyack (N.Y.).
With the losses, the Vulcans drop to 4-12 overall after playing six teams from the Northern State Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) in Florida.
Against Northern State (13-4), the Vulcans left the bases loaded in the top of the first before the Wolves scored five runs after capitalizing on a pair of errors. Northern State added one run in the second before Cal U again left the bases loaded in the third.
In the fifth, senior center fielder
Sierra Besser-Paul (Montreal, Quebec/Howard S. Billings) belted a solo homer – her first of the year – to start the inning. The Wolvers countered with a two-run homer by third baseman Kaitlyn King in the bottom of the inning to take a 8-1 lead.
Sophomore
Kelsey Barron (La Salle, Mich./St. Mary Catholic Central) led off the top of the seventh with a single before Besser-Paul followed with a double. Barron later scored on a bases-loaded walk by freshman
Kierra Waywood (Yukon, Pa./Yough) before Besser-Paul scored on a ground-out.
Barron went 3-for-4 with one run scored, plus worked 3.2 innings of relief in the contest. Besser-Paul finished 2-for-4 with a solo homer and two runs scored.
Freshman
Ellie Lobdell (Warren, Pa./Warren) suffered the loss after allowing seven runs (four earned) on six hits in 2.1 innings.
Against Nyack (3-5), the game was forced to the international tiebreaker at 3-3 before both teams scored one run in the eighth. The Warriors then claimed the victory in the top of the ninth with a grand slam by center fielder Erin O'Brien.
Nyack took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third after an error led to all three runs. In the fourth, the Vulcans capitalized on a pair of errors to score three unearned runs and tie the game, 3-3. Freshman second baseman
Kira Hillhouse (Erie, Pa./McDowell) reached on a hit by pitch to start the inning and later scored on an RBI single by sophomore third baseman
Kaitlyn Corle (Hopewell, Pa./Northern Bedford).
Barron retired the Warriors in order in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to force extra innings. Cal U threatened in the bottom of the sixth with the bases loaded and one out before back-to-back fly-outs kept the score tied.
In the eighth, Nyack manufactured a run with a sacrifice bunt and single before leaving runners on first and second. The Vulcans scored on a passed ball in the bottom of the inning before back-to-back singles with one out, however, a pair of fly-outs again ended the inning.
The Warriors attempted to score in the top of the ninth on a ground-out to the shortstop before the runner was tagged out at home. Nyack then posted a single and walk before O'Brien registered a grand slam.
Barron (1-5) was saddled the loss after surrendering five runs (four earned) on four hits in 6.1 innings of relief.
Corle went 2-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored in the contest.
The Vulcans are now idle for over two weeks before starting divisional play on March 27 with a doubleheader at Slippery Rock, starting at 2:30 p.m.
