• Box Score vs. Alderson-Broaddus
• Box Score vs. Shepherd

SALEM, Va. (March 20) – The Vulcans picked up two wins to close out the Salem Invitational, posting a 6-4 victory over Alderson-Broaddus before defeating Shepherd, 7-2, in the nightcap on Sunday.

With the sweep, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team improves to 15-7 this season, while Alderson-Broaddus falls to 15-8 and Shepherd drops to 13-8.

Freshman Kaitlyn Schilling (Morrisville, Pa./Pennsbury) earned the win in relief against Alderson-Broaddus to improve her mark to 5-2 this season. She pitched the final 4.0 innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks, while striking out two. Freshman Hope Spancake (Pine Grove, Pa./Pine Grove) earned her first save of the year after starting the game and re-entering with two outs in the fifth inning. Kat Powell was saddled with the loss for A-B after allowing six runs (five earned) on 10 hits in 6.0 innings.

The Battlers scored two runs in the top of the first inning to take an early 2-0 lead before Schilling entered the game and recorded a strikeout with two runners on to end the threat.

Cal U responded with two runs in the bottom of the second to tie the game, 2-2. Senior first baseman Sarah Spiering (Upper Burrell, Pa./Burrell) led off with a walk and advanced to third on a double by left fielder Kristen McKenzie (Senneville, Quebec/St. Thomas). Spiering later scored on an RBI ground-out by senior center fielder Merissa Daley (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair) and McKenzie scored on an RBI single by redshirt freshman designated player Randi Miller (Mifflintown, Pa./Juniata).

The Vulcans added two more runs in the bottom of the third, 4-2, after freshman catcher Natalie Wideman (Mississauga, Ontario/Streetsville Secondary) singled and scored on an RBI triple by junior shortstop Jillian Russell (London, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic), who then scored on a Spiering single. In the fourth, Cal U added two more runs when Wideman connected on a two-run, two-out single.

Wideman was the only Cal U player to post a multi-hit performance, finishing 3-for-4 with two RBI.

In the nightcap, senior Maria Greco (Pickering, Ontario/Notre Dame Catholic) earned the win to even her record this season at 3-3. She pitched all 7.0 innings and allowed just five hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out five. Shepherd starter Nichole Pitcock suffered the loss after allowing two runs (both earned) and issuing three walks in just 0.1 inning.

After Pitcock walked the bases loaded in the top of the first, McKenzie recorded a two-run single to give the Vulcans a 2-0 lead. Cal U added another run, 3-0, in the fifth when Spiering led off the inning with her fourth home run of the year.

The Vulcans scored two runs in the top of the sixth as Russell belted a two-run homer, her fourth of the season, and again added two more runs in the top of the seventh on a two-run single by Wideman.

Spiering led four Vulcans who posted multi-hit games, finishing 3-for-3 with a homer and one RBI, while McKenzie and Wideman each finished with two hits and two RBI and Daley added two hits.

Cal U returns to action on Wednesday, March 23, for its home opener against West Liberty at 2:30 p.m. Live stats will be available by clicking here.