• Box Score vs. Philadelphia
• Box Score vs. No. 13 Saginaw Valley

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (March 6) – In its first action of the season, the No. 15 California University of Pennsylvania softball team took a split in two games on Saturday at the Rebel Spring Games, defeating Philadelphia 7-1 before losing 6-2 to No. 13 Saginaw Valley (Mich.).

In their season-opener against Philadelphia, senior designated hitter Julie Mackenzie (Mississauga, Ontario/Meadowvale) and sophomore catcher Alyson Johnson (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central) each collected two hits with Johnson posting three RBI after a three-run homer in the fifth inning.

Cal U took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a wild pitch before sophomore shortstop Jillian Russell (London, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic) scored on a groundout in the third.

The Vulcans then broke the game open with a five-run fifth inning. junior right fielder Amanda Wallace (Oakmont, Pa./Penn Hills) and freshman center fielder Melissa Lupinacci (Irwin, Pa./Hempfield) opened the inning with back-to-back singles before scoring on a two-out double by Russell. Johnson followed with a three-run home to increase the lead to 7-0. The Rams manufactured their only run of the game in the sixth inning.

Senior Sonia Petrosoniak (Mississauga, Ontario/Clarkson) earned the win after allowing only one run on three hits in 5.1 innings with two walks and two strikeouts. Freshman Courtney Spina sustained the loss after being roughed up for seven runs (all earned) on six hits and five walks in 4.0 innings.

Against the nationally-ranked Cardinals (4-1), Wallace collected three of the team's seven hits. Russell and junior second baseman Merissa Daley (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair) each registered a RBI in loss to Saginaw Valley.

Trailing 1-0 after the first inning, Cal U evened the game at 1-1 in the top of the second. Senior first baseman Julia Mueller (Bairdford, Pa./Deer Lakes) reached base on a single and advanced to second on a fielder's choice before scoring on a RBI single by Daley.

Saginaw Valley reclaimed the lead in the third with a pair of runs before the Vulcans cut the deficit to 3-2 with a two-out RBI double by Russell that scored senior left fielder Kayleigh Braim (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus) in the fifth inning. However, the Cardinals plated three insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth en route to claiming the 6-2 victory.

Senior right-hander Lauren Shaheen (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) suffered the loss after allowing five runs (three earned) on four hits in 3.0 innings of relief. Cardinal reliever Kari Bowlby improved to 3-0 this season after yielding one run on five hits in 3.0 innings.

The Vulcans continue play at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee tomorrow, Sunday, March 7, when they face Truman State (Mo.) and Northwood (Mich.).