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

GAFFNEY, S.C. (Feb. 25) – Senior shortstop Jillian Russell (London, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic) collected five hits and four RBI on Saturday morning, as the Vulcans opened their season with a split of games at the Limestone Saints Invitational.

The California University of Pennsylvania softball team opened play with a 5-2 loss against host Limestone before claiming a 4-3 victory over Alderson-Broaddus.

The host Saints took a 2-0 lead after scoring a run in each of the first two innings. Cal U then had runners in scoring position with one out in the fourth and fifth innings before Limestone escaped both times without allowing a run. The Saints expanded their lead to 5-0 after scoring three runs in top of the sixth. In the bottom of the seventh, the Vulcans avoided the shutout with Russell collecting a two-out, two-run double to cut the deficit to 5-2.

Russell and sophomores Shelby Lia (Whitby, Ontario/Donald A. Wilson), Natalie Wideman (Mississauga, Ontario/Streetsville Secondary) and Stephani Ellis (Vancouver, British Columbia/Prince of Wales Secondary) each collected two hits. The quartet combined for all eight of the team's hits in the loss.

Sophomore Hope Spancake (Pine Grove, Pa./Pine Grove) suffered the loss after allowing five runs (three earned) on 10 hits in 7.0 innings. Limestone's Shelby Ward (1-2) earned the win after tossing 6.0 scoreless innings with eight strikeouts on Saturday.

Against Alderson-Broaddus, the Vulcans took a 1-0 lead in the top of second when senior catcher Alyson Johnson (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central) scored on a squeeze bunt by freshman right fielder Shelby Heyd (Innisfil, Ontario/Nantyr Shores Secondary). Cal U added to its lead in the third when Wideman scored on a wild pitch, 2-0.

The Battlers trimmed the deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth before the Vulcans countered with a pair of runs in the seventh. Lia started the inning with a single before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt and Russell followed with a two-run homer, the 34th of career. A-B answered in the bottom of the inning with a two-out, two-run double by second baseman Adrienne Daniels, who was tagged out between second and third to end the game.

Russell finished the game 3-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored, while Johnson added a pair of singles.

Sophomore Kaitlyn Schilling (Morrisville, Pa./Pennsbury) earned the win in her season debut, yielding three runs (all earned) on seven hits and three walks. She also registered a career-high eight strikeouts in the complete-game victory. Battlers' starter Vanessa Bodily was saddled with the loss after allowing two runs (both earned) on five hits in 6.0 innings of work.

The Vulcans continue play at the weekend invitational tomorrow, Sunday, Feb. 26, when they play Alderson-Broaddus and Brevard (N.C.), starting at 10 a.m.