GREENVILLE, N.C.; March 26, 2006- The Nittany Lion softball team (18-4) dropped a 5-0 decision to No. 7 California (28-2) Sunday in Penn State's final game of the Pirate Invitational at East Carolina. The loss snapped a 16-game win streak for the Lions, the longest in program history. Penn State is off to its best start ever at 18-4 and hadn't lost since February. The Lions finished the Pirate Invitational with a 4-1 record.

Cal came out early, putting three runs on the board in the top of the first inning. Lindsay James hit a single through the left side before a groundout and a walk put runners on first and second base for the Golden Bears. An error loaded the bases for centerfielder Alex Sutton, who hit a double that sent three Bears across the plate. The next batter Carly Winger lined into a double play that ended the inning with the Cal advantage at 3-0.

The Bears put another run on the board in the top of the second, after an inning-opening single to Katie Vickers. A sacrifice bunt moved Vickers to second, triggering a pitching change for Penn State. Redshirt-senior Missy Beseres (Golden Valley, Minn.) got the next batter to pop-up before allowing an RBI-triple to James to give California the 4-0 advantage.

In the sixth inning, Cal got its final run. A single and another sacrifice bunt, this time from Vickers and Julie Meyers, respectively, put the Bears in position to score again. A single by James moved Vickers to third for Morgan Siegel, who delivered an RBI-single to make the final tally 5-0 in favor of No. 7 Cal.

The Lions scattered four hits over seven innings, but couldn't get anything on the board. In the circle for the Lions, sophomore Jenn Reynolds (Clovis, Calif.) pitched 1.1 innings before Beseres made her relief appearance, striking out seven Bears in 5.2 innings.

Penn State hosts local rival St. Francis Wednesday for a 6 p.m. doubleheader at Nittany Lion Field before opening its Big Ten season at Purdue and Indiana this weekend.