SALISBURY, Md. – Mount Union's softball team defeated no. 20 nationally ranked Pfeiffer 8-0 in five innings in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Salisbury University on Thursday afternoon.

The Purple Raiders (28-12) would strike first when junior Kendyll Cahill (Groveport / Groveport Madison) drove in fellow junior Sydney Mercer (Salem / West Branch) to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. They would then add another run in the following inning when freshman Allison Jones (Berlin Center / Western Reserve) hit an RBI single to score junior Kaitlyn Culver (Girard) to extend the lead to 2-0.

Mount Union would then add two more runs in the third inning when junior Lydia Brunner (Minerva) hit a two-RBI double that brought in Cahill and sophomore Karlie Davis (St. Leon, Ind. / East Central) to make the lead 4-0.

Then, in the fourth inning Cahill would hit a three-RBI double that scored junior Faith Reicosky (North Canton / Hoover), Mercer and Jones and then senior Tori Sickafoose (Magnolia / Sandy Valley) would bring in Cahill to push the lead out to eight runs.

The Falcons (35-8) wouldn't be able to answer as the Raiders would go on to win 8-0 in five innings.

Cahill got the start in the circle for Mount Union and threw a complete game shutout, giving up just one hit and striking out four.

The Raiders will take on no. 8 nationally ranked Salisbury in the second round of the NCAA Tournament tomorrow at 11 a.m. in Salisbury.