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

GAFFNEY, S.C. (Feb. 26) – The California University of Pennsylvania softball team earned a pair of wins on Sunday morning at the Limestone Saints Invitational, posting a 6-5 win in walk-off fashion against Alderson-Broaddus before claiming a 10-1 run-rule victory over Brevard (N.C.).

With the wins, the Vulcans finish the season-opening invitational with a 3-1 record after splitting a pair games yesterday against the host Saints and Battlers.

Sophomore pitcher Kaitlyn Schilling (Morrisville, Pa./Pennsbury) earned the win in both games on Sunday after allowing three runs (two earned) in 7.1 innings of work. She tossed 2.0 innings of relief against A-B before starting against Brevard. At the two-day invitational, Schilling posted a 3-0 record and a 2.44 ERA in 14.1 innings with 13 strikeouts.

In the opening game on Sunday, Cal U took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth when sophomore first baseman Shelby Lia (Whitby, Ontario/Donald A. Wilson) belted a solo homer, eighth career. The Vulcans added to their lead in the fifth when sophomore second baseman Natalie Wideman (Mississauga, Ontario/Streetsville Secondary) collected a two-out, RBI double, 2-0. Alderson-Broaddus rallied to take a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth on a three-run homer by pitcher Kat Powell before Cal U answered with a run on an RBI single by freshman right fielder Shelby Heyd (Innisfil, Ontario/Nantyr Shores Secondary) in the bottom of the inning to the game at 3-3.

After the game remained tied after seven innings, the international tiebreaker was used. In the eighth, the Battlers scored a pair of runs to take a 5-3 lead before ending the inning with the bases loaded. With a runner on second to start the inning, the Vulcans tied the game at 5-5 with a two-run homer by senior designated player Alyson Johnson (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central), the 30th of her career. Senior left fielder Kristen McKenzie (Senneville, Quebec/St. Thomas) followed with a double and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. With two outs and McKenzie on third, freshman catcher Paige Johnson (West Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell) delivered the game-winning, walk-off single to give the Vulcans a 6-5 win.

Sophomore center fielder Stephani Ellis (Vancouver, British Columbia/Prince of Wales Secondary), Alyson Johnson and Wideman each led the team with two hits against the Battlers, while five different players tallied an RBI.

Schilling recorded the win after working 2.0 innings of relief, allowing two runs (one earned) and posting three strikeouts. Sophomore starter Hope Spancake (Pine Grove, Pa./Pine Grove) took a no-decision after yielding three runs (all earned) in 6.0 innings with five strikeouts.

In the game against Brevard, Cal U took a 3-0 lead in the top of the second when Heyd was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Wideman collected a two-run single. The Vulcans added five runs on four hits in the third inning to increase their lead to 8-0. Ellis reached base on a double to start the rally before scoring on a double by Alyson Johnson, who later scored on a two-out single by Heyd. Paige Johnson then added to the lead with a three-run homer, the first of her career.

The Tornadoes manufactured a run in the bottom of the fourth before the Vulcans sealed the run-rule victory in the sixth with a two-run homer by freshman Katie Natter (Baldwin, Pa./Baldwin), the first of her career.

Ellis and Alyson Johnson both collected three hits against Brevard, while four players tallied multi-RBI games in the victory.

Schilling earned the win after allowing one run (earned) on four hits in 5.1 innings and freshman Madison Cashner (Canton, Ohio/GlenOak) made her collegiate debut by tossing 0.2 inning of relief against the Tornadoes.

Cal U returns to action with its annual trip to Kissimmee, Fla., playing 10 games in five days at the Rebel Spring Games from March 8-12.