CALIFORNIA, Pa.  – The Lock Haven University softball team (28-19) fell 5-4 today in its opening game of the NCAA Regional tournament to No. 23 California (Pa.) University (33-8).

The Lady Eagles jumped out to an early 3-0 lead through three innings of play, but were unable to sustain it as they gave up five runs in the fourth and fifth innings.

LHU scored its four runs in the game on eight hits.

Brittany Favazza (Bel Air, Md./C. Milton Wright) led the Lady Eagles at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored.

Alyssa Smith (Barrington, N.H./St. Thomas Aquinas) was the only other Lady Eagle with multiple hits in the game.  Smith went 2-for-3 and scored a run.

Nicole Smith (Milton, Pa./Milton) and Alicia Cacciotti (Horseheads, N.Y./Horseheads) each went 1-for-3 at the plate with an RBI.

Nikki Weaknecht (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown) also chipped in offensively for The Haven, as she went 1-for-2 with a run scored.

Sarah Morse (Dover, N.H./Dover) started in the circle for LHU.  Morse threw 4.1 innings and allowed four runs on seven hits.  Nicole Smith came in to pitch the final 1.2 innings in relief.

The Lady Eagles return to action at the NCAA Regionals tomorrow (May 5) when they take on local rival Bloomsburg in an elimination game.  The game is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. at Lilley Field in California, Pa.


Box Score