• Box Score vs. Adelphi
• Box Score vs. C.W. Post

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (March 10) – Sophomore Hope Spancake (Pine Grove, Pa./Pine Grove) tossed her first career no-hitter on Saturday afternoon, as the Vulcans managed another split at the Rebel Spring Games with a 5-0 win against Adelphi (N.Y.) before falling 5-3 in extra innings to No. 16 C.W. Post.

With the split, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team moves to 7-3 this season with a 4-2 record at the Rebel Games.

Spancake registered a season-high 11 strikeouts against Adelphi, allowing only four runners to reach base (three errors, one fielder's choice) in her sixth career complete-game shutout. She is the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter for the Vulcans since Maria Greco tossed no-hitters on back-to-back days in April 2010. While in Florida this year, Spancake boasts a 3-0 record and a 0.28 ERA in 24.2 innings with 21 strikeouts.

In the top of the third, sophomore right fielder Stephani Ellis (Vancouver, British Columbia/Prince of Wales Secondary) drew a bases-loaded walk to give the Vulcans a 1-0 lead. Cal U added another run in the fourth with three-straight singles, including a two-out RBI single by sophomore second baseman Natalie Wideman (Mississauga, Ontario/Streetsville Secondary), 2-0.

The Vulcans broke the game open in the fifth with five runs on five hits to take a 7-0 lead. Senior designated player Alyson Johnson (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central) lined a two-run single before being thrown out attempting to go to second. Following a strikeout and walk, freshman shortstop Breanna Morris (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central) reached on a single before freshman catcher Paige Johnson (West Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell) belted a three-run homer, her second of the season.

Paige Johnson went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, while Wideman tied her career high with three hits. Morris and senior third baseman Jillian Russell (London, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic) both collected two hits and Morris scored two runs.

Against nationally-ranked C.W. Post, sophomore Kaitlyn Schilling (Morrisville, Pa./Pennsbury) suffered the loss after allowing five unearned runs on six hits in 8.0 innings with five strikeouts. Pioneers freshman Megan Salcido earned the complete-game win, yielding three runs (two earned) on six hits.

The Pioneers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on two singles and an error before the Vulcans took the lead in the fourth. Sophomore first baseman Shelby Lia (Whitby, Ontario/Donald A. Wilson) opened the inning with a triple before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Russell. Ellis then reached on a single before scoring on an error with two outs, 2-1.

In the seventh, C.W. Post reclaimed the lead on a pair of two-out RBI singles after the inning started with an error. Cal U answered with a run in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 3-3 when freshman Katie Natter (Baldwin, Pa./Baldwin) scored on an error after starting the inning with a double.

With international tiebreaker rules in effect, the Pioneers broke the tie in the eighth with a double by shortstop Nicole Hagenah before she scored on a failed pickoff attempt. In the bottom of the inning, Cal U failed to move the runner to third after lining into a double play to start the inning.

The Vulcans resume play on their annual trip to Florida tomorrow, Sunday, March 11, when they face Tiffin (Ohio) and Caldwell (N.J.).