MIAMI, Fla. – The Penn State softball team (3-2) fell to Cal, 3-1, in the final day at the Felsberg Invitational Sunday at Felsberg Field.
The Nittany Lions finished the weekend with a winning record, marking their best start since 2015.
Both teams started the game with their offenses going down in order in the first inning.
The Golden Bears then put numbers on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second after an error and two-straight hits brought in two runs. A third hit brought in another run to make it 3-0 Cal after two.
Penn State tried to responded in the next half inning by loading the bases with base hits from sophomore Ally Kurland and freshman Kaitlyn Morrison and a walk by Leanne Matthews but Cal got out of the jam and left all three Nittany Lions stranded.
The Nittany Lions were able to get a run home in the top of the fourth after freshman Michelle Leone singled down the right field line, her second hit of the game, and then stole second before a Cal defensive error on Dani Fey's bunt scored Leone to make it 3-1.
The Penn State defense was able to take care of business the next four innings but its offense was unable to produce any runs in the final three innings to even the score.
Morrison now has a five-game hitting streak while Kurland extended hers to four.
On Deck
The Nittany Lions go back to the Sunshine State next weekend to participate in the UCF Knights Classic, Feb. 14-16, in Orlando, Fla. Penn State will face Villanova, FAU and Iowa State.