• Box Score vs. Wayne State
• Box Score vs. Southwest Minnesota State
• Box Score vs. Caldwell

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (March 12) – The Vulcans concluded play at the Rebel Spring Games with victories over Wayne State (Mich.), Southwest Minnesota State and Caldwell (N.J.) on Monday, highlighted by a walk-off win against SMSU on a two-run homer by freshman Katie Natter (Baldwin, Pa./Baldwin).

With the wins, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team improve to 10-3 overall after posting a 7-2 mark at the Rebel Games.

Against Southwest Minnesota State, the Vulcans posted their third walk-off win of the season and second at the Rebel Games. Cal U trailed 3-2 entering the bottom of the seventh when sophomore second baseman Natalie Wideman (Mississauga, Ontario/Streetsville Secondary) started the inning with a single to right field. Natter then belted the game-winning, two-run homer – her second homer of the game.

Cal U took an early 1-0 lead in the second on an RBI single by senior left fielder Kristen McKenzie (Senneville, Quebec/St. Thomas). After the Mustangs evened the score in the top of the fifth by manufacturing a run, the Vulcans reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the inning with a solo homer by Natter, 2-1.

In the sixth, SMSU scored a pair of runs on four singles, an intentional walk and sacrifice fly to take its first lead of the game at 3-2. The Vulcans later secured its second win of the day with the walk-off, two-run homer by Natter.

Natter finished the game going 2-for-3 with a pair of homers, three RBI and two runs scored. She is the first player for the Vulcans to post a multi-homer game since Jillian Russell (London, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic) last March against Mercyhurst.

Freshman right fielder Shelby Heyd (Innisfil, Ontario/Nantyr Shores Secondary) went 3-for-3 in the win, while Russell collected a pair of hits against the Mustangs.

Sophomore Kaitlyn Schilling (Morrisville, Pa./Pennsbury) earned the complete-game victory, allowing three runs (all earned) and scattering 12 hits in 7.0 innings. She also tied her season and career high with eight strikeouts, while issuing two walks on Monday. SMSU freshman Rachel Hoeppner (4-3) suffered the loss after yielding four runs (all earned) in 6.0-plus innings.

Playing its third game on Monday under the lights, Cal U scored all eight of their runs in two innings en route to claiming an 8-1 victory over Caldwell.

The Vulcans took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third on three walks and a pair of hits. After back-to-back walks, sophomore Shelby Lia (Whitby, Ontario/Donald A. Wilson) lined a pinch-hit RBI double to left field before senior catcher Alyson Johnson (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central) followed with a two-run single.

Caldwell countered with a run in the fourth on a two-out single after the inning started with a fielding error, 3-1. Cal U seized control of the game in the sixth, scoring five runs after eight runners reached base in the inning. With runners on the corners, Heyd lined an RBI single to right field before Wideman collected an RBI single to center field. After the Cougars made a pitching change, Natter added an RBI double and the Vulcans scored another run later in the inning on a throwing error. Cal U scored its last run of the game when Alyson Johnson drew a bases-loaded walk.

The trio of Heyd, Paige Johnson (West Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell) and Lia combined for six of the team's 11 hits. Alyson Johnson finished the game with three RBI and Natter scored twice.

Sophomore Hope Spancake (Pine Grove, Pa./Pine Grove) earned the win after allowing one run (unearned) on five hits in 7.0 innings. Caldwell starter Sarah Almasy (1-1) was saddled with the loss after allowing three runs (all earned) on four hits and three walks in just 2.1 innings.

Against Wayne State, the Vulcans held a 4-0 lead before the Warriors scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh, 4-3. Alyson Johnson posted a multi-hit game in the win, going 2-for-3 with three RBI. Spancake earned the win after allowing three runs (two earned) on nine hits in 7.0 innings with six strikeouts.

Cal U took a 1-0 lead in the second when sophomore first baseman Stephani Ellis (Vancouver, British Columbia/Prince of Wales Secondary) scored from second on an RBI single by Paige Johnson. The Vulcans added to their lead in the third with a two-run, two-out single by Alyson Johnson, 3-0.

In the top of the fifth, Cal U manufactured an insurance run with a two-out RBI single by Alyson Johnson. Wayne State cut the deficit to 4-3 in the seventh before Spancake induced a ground-out to end the game with the bases loaded.

Cal U returns to action this weekend when it plays five games in Virginia at the Salem Invitational from March 16-18.