Remember when: April 4, 1999

Streak busted: Cal U’s PSAC winning streak ends at 88

(Editor’s Note: During these unprecedented times, the sports staff at the MVI will republish stories from the Valley Independent archives.)

By DEAN DELLAMALVA JR.
For the Mon Valley Independent
Winning games in the PSAC used to be easy for the California University softball team and coach Rick Bertagnolli.
Going into their matchup with rival Lock Haven, the Vulcans had won 87 consecutive conference games and were 93-1 under Bertagnolli.
Cal (15-12, 5-1) was able to extend its streak to 88 after a 9-0 victory over the Bald Eagles in five innings. However, the streawk stopped there as Lock Haven (10-8, 4-4), the last PSAC team to beat the Vulcans in 1994, took the nightcap, 6-2.
“In a big way, it is a big lift off our shoulders, but I did not want it to go away,” claimed Bertagnolli on the pressures of keeping the winning streak alive. “Hopefully now we will not be so tight when we play.”
Lock Haven jumped on the Vulcans and starting pitcher Rose Walsh early in the second game. Walsh lasted only 1 1/3 innings, giving up three runs on five hits.
With the Bald Eagles up 3-0, California’s Holly Hall smacked a solo home run in the second to right field.
Lock Haven, however, got the run back in the fourth on a Brittany Sharp (homer).
“The home run in the third was a miscommunication between me and the catcher,” added Bertagnolli. “It was a killing blow because it put it back to a three-run game.”
The Vulcans struck for another run in the fifth as Hall walked, Jill Witt doubled and Meaggan Wilton reached base on an error.
That was it for the Vulcans however, as they stranded lead-off runners in the final three innings.
Melissa Brooks finished the game for California, going 5 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on six hits and striking out seven.
Lock Haven’s Erin Monger stiffled the Vulcans, going seven strong innings and giving up only two runs on five hits while walking three.
In the first game, Cal got six runs in the second inning.
Cal batted around in the inning as Witt and Nikki Fiedler homered. Kristen Heslop also had to RBIs in the inning.
The Vulcans scored three more in the third as they continued to pound Lock Haven Kim Summerhill, who went 2 2/3 innings and gave up eight runs on 11 hits.
Brooks threw a two-hitter in the five inning game with seven strikeouts.
“We hit the ball extremely well, but there is no replacement for long balls,” said Bertagnolli. “It really put the game out of reach for us.”
GAME NOTES: Fiedler’s homer was her fourth of the season, tying her for the team lead with Heslop and Ali Ferrari. Witt’s long ball was her first. … Brooks has now struck out 96 batters for the season while walking only 11. … Cal’s best hiiter, Witt, went 4 for 6 to up her average to .385.

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