CLERMONT, Fla. (March 8) – The California University of Pennsylvania softball team opened play at the PFX Spring Games with a pair of losses on Saturday evening, suffering a 4-2 loss to Dominican (N.Y.) and dropping a 7-5 contest to MSU Moorhead.

With the losses, the Vulcans fall to 1-7 overall while playing their first games since Feb. 16 in Arizona.

Against Dominican (1-0), the Chargers scored three unearned runs in the bottom of the first after the game started with an error. Cal U stranded a runner at first and second in both the second and third innings. Freshman Ellie Lobdell (Warren, Pa./Warren) retired Dominican in order in three-straight innings before the Chargers started the fifth with a single and later scored on a two-out single, 4-0.

Lobdell later forced Dominican to strand a runner at second following a two-out double in the sixth. The Vulcans mounted a rally in the top of the seventh, eventually bringing the go-ahead run to the plate. Junior shortstop Alexa Pastor (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) reached on a double before junior catcher Brooke Wilson (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) later delivered an RBI double with two outs. Sophomore Kelsey Barron (La Salle, Mich./St. Mary Catholic Central) then reached on a hit by pitch before Wilson scored on an error that allowed redshirt junior first baseman Paige Wilson (Warren, Pa./Warren) to reach base. However, the Chargers then induced a fly-out to seal the 4-2 victory.

Pastor went 2-for-2 with one run scored and one hit by pitch, while Barron reached base in all four plate appearances (two singles, hit by pitch, walk).

Lobdell (1-1) suffered the loss after allowing four runs (one earned) on six hits with no walks over 6.0 innings. Dominican freshman Kyra Wiens earned the complete-game victory after yielding two runs (one earned) on six hits in 7.0 innings with seven strikeouts.

Against MSU Moorhead (1-5), Brooke Wilson finished 2-for-3 with a solo homer, two RBI, two runs scored and one walk from the leadoff spot. Pastor also collected a pair of hits, one RBI, one run scored and one walk.

The Vulcans took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first following a leadoff homer by Brooke Wilson, her first of the year and sixth career. MSU Moorhead countered with a pair of runs in the second before Cal U reclaimed the lead at 3-2 in the fourth. Freshman designated player Izzy Farmer (West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin) lined a triple before freshman second baseman Kira Hillhouse (Erie, Pa./McDowell) followed with an RBI single. Pastor later collected her second single of the game to score Hillhouse.

In the fifth, the Dragons scored five runs after a two-out error allowed the last two runs to score. Brooke Wilson and Paige Wilson drew walks in the bottom of the inning before senior center fielder Sierra Besser-Paul (Montreal, Quebec/Howard S. Billings) followed with an RBI single. MSU Moorhead then made a pitching change and forced Cal U to leave runners on first and second. The Vulcans cut the deficit to 7-5 in the sixth after Brooke Wilson delivered a two-out RBI single.

Cal U again threatened with the game-tying run on base in the seventh before a strikeout ended the game.

Barron was saddled with the loss after surrendering seven runs (three earned) on seven hits and three walks in 5.0 innings. Freshman Kierra Waywood (Yukon, Pa./Yough) tossed 2.0 scoreless innings of relief in the contest. MSU Moorhead starter Anna Lang recorded the win after allowing four runs (all earned) on six hits and three walks in 4.1 innings.

The Vulcans return to action tomorrow, Sunday, March 8, when they face Wayne State (Neb.) and Bemidji State (Minn.) in Florida, starting at approximately 2:45 p.m.