• Box Score

SALEM, Va. (March 18) – Senior third baseman Jillian Russell (London, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic) moved into a tie for second place in school history with her 37th career homer on Sunday morning, as the California University of Pennsylvania softball team earned a 12-1 run-rule win against Shepherd at the Salem Invitational.

With the victory, the Vulcans improve to 15-3 overall and extend their winning streak to eight games. During the Salem Invitational, Cal U posted a 5-0 mark and outscored its opponents by a 51-15 margin.

Russell paced the offensive effort against the Rams, going 3-for-3 with one double, one homer, five RBI and three runs scored. She is now tied with Jen Wagner (1993-96) for second place in school history with 37 homers, which is only one shy of the all-time record held by Kristin Heslop (1999-02). Last year, Russell tied the single-season school record with 14 home runs that was originally set by Wagner in 1994.

Sophomore Natalie Wideman (Mississauga, Ontario/Streetsville Secondary) led off the game with a triple and scored on an RBI single by Russell, who moved to second on a single by sophomore left fielder Stephani Ellis (Vancouver, British Columbia/Prince of Wales Secondary). Both runners advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch before Russell tagged from third on a foul-out down the right-field line. Ellis tagged to third on the foul-out and scored on an error when the Rams tried to throw out Russell at the plate, 3-0.

The Vulcans expanded their lead to 7-0 in the second after the first four batters of the inning reached base safely. Sophomore Shelby Lia (Whitby, Ontario/Donald A. Wilson) belted a two-run homer, her third of the season, before Wideman later delivered an RBI double and scored on a sacrifice fly by Russell. After Shepherd scored a run in the fourth, freshman right fielder Shelby Heyd (Innisfil, Ontario/Nantyr Shores Secondary) extended her hitting streak to eight games with a two-out RBI double in the top of fifth, 8-1.

In the sixth, Cal U forced the run-rule victory after scoring four runs on back-to-back homers by Russell and senior Kristen McKenzie (Senneville, Quebec/St. Thomas). Russell delivered a three-run homer before McKenzie followed with a solo homer, her first of the year.

Sophomore Hope Spancake (Pine Grove, Pa./Pine Grove) improved to 8-1 this season after allowing one run (earned) on five hits in 6.0 innings with no walks and six strikeouts. Shepherd's starter Tricia Bettura suffered the loss after being roughed up for seven runs (five earned) on six hits in 1.0-plus innings.

Wideman went 2-for-3 with one RBI and three runs against Shepherd, while Lia finished 2-for-3 with one homer, two RBI and two runs scored.

The Vulcans return to action Wednesday, March 21, with their home-opening doubleheader at Lilley Field against West Liberty at 3 p.m. Live stats of the games will be available by clicking here.