• Box Score vs. Ferris State
• Box Score vs. Southwest Minnesota State
• Box Score vs. Saginaw Valley

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (March 11) – The California University of Pennsylvania softball team closed its spring trip at the Rebel Spring Games on Friday with three victories, including one-run wins against Ferris State (Mich.) and No. 25 Saginaw Valley (Mich.) and a run-rule victory versus Southwest Minnesota State.

With the wins, the Vulcans improve to 12-5 this season following a 7-2 record at the Rebel Spring Games.

Against Ferris State (3-6), the Vulcans earned their first win of the day in walk-off fashion on a two-run double by freshman catcher Natalie Wideman (Mississauga, Ontario/Streetsville Secondary) in the bottom of the seventh. Freshman Kaitlyn Schilling (Morrisville, Pa./Pennsbury) earned the win in relief, tossing the final 4.2 innings and allowing three runs (two earned).

Behind runs in each of the first three innings, the Bulldogs started the game up 4-0 before the Vulcans answered back with two runs in the bottom of the third on a two-run double by junior right fielder Alyson Johnson (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central). In the top of the seventh, Ferris State increased its lead, 7-3, with three runs on three hits and three errors. In the bottom half of the inning, Johnson belted a three-run homer to cut the lead to 7-6 before Wideman came to bat with two runners on and connected on the walk-off double to seal the victory.

Johnson led the Vulcans with five RBI behind two extra-base hits while freshman second baseman Shelby Lia (Whitby, Ontario/Donald A. Wilson) finished 3-for-3 with three runs scored. Wideman and senior first baseman Sarah Spiering (Upper Burrell, Pa./Burrell) each collected two hits.

Following the victory over Ferris State, Cal U posted a 12-3 win against Southwest Minnesota State (10-8) in five innings. Senior Maria Greco (Pickering, Ontario/Notre Dame Catholic) earned the complete-game victory against the Mustangs, allowing three runs on seven hits with six strikeouts in 5.0 innings. Wideman was one of four Vulcans to post a multi-hit game, going 3-for-3 with three RBI and three runs.

After each team scored a run in the second, the Mustangs took a 3-1 lead in the third on a two-run homer by center fielder Christine Borowiak. Cal U then answered with five runs on five hits in the top of the fourth to take a 6-2 lead. With the bases loaded, Wideman collected a RBI single before freshman Stephani Ellis (Vancouver, British Columbia/Prince of Wales Secondary) drove in another run by being hit by pitch. After another run scored on an error, Lia lined a two-out, two-run double to cap the scoring in the fourth.

The Vulcans forced the run-rule victory by scoring six runs on five hits and two errors. The first five batters for Cal U reached base safely with junior Kristen McKenzie (Senneville, Quebec/St. Thomas) collecting a RBI double before Wideman followed with a two-run double. Later in the inning, senior Merissa Daley (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair) lined a RBI double and scored on a two-run double by junior shortstop Jillian Russell (London, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic).

In the final game on Friday, freshman Hope Spancake (Pine Grove, Pa./Pine Grove) recorded the win against Saginaw Valley after allowing two runs on four hits in 4.0 innings of work. Schilling tossed the final 3.0 innings and earned the save, yielding one run (unearned) on two hits with three strikeouts.

Johnson and Lia combined for five of the eight hits by Cal U, as Johnson finished 3-for-3 and Lia tallied a pair of doubles.

The Vulcans scored three runs in the first before the Cardinals cut the deficit to 3-2 in the fifth. Cal U added to its lead in the bottom of the inning with a RBI double by Lia that scored Wideman, who started the inning with a single. Trailing by two runs in the top of the seventh, Saginaw Valley trimmed the deficit to 4-3 on a sacrifice fly before Schilling induced a grounder to close the game.

Cal U is scheduled to return to action on Wednesday, March 16, with a doubleheader at IUP at 2:30 p.m.