• Box Score vs. St. Cloud State
• Box Score vs. Saginaw Valley

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (March 8) – The Vulcans opened play at the Rebel Spring Games with a pair of victories on Thursday, posting an 8-0 run-rule victory against St. Cloud State (Minn.) before claiming a 3-2 walk-off win over Saginaw Valley (Mich.) in extra innings.

With the wins, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team improves to 5-1 this season.

In the second game on Thursday, Cal U took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning against Saginaw Valley, who was ranked No. 14 in the country last week. After a walk and fielder's choice to the start the inning, sophomore second baseman Natalie Wideman (Mississauga, Ontario/Streetsville Secondary) followed with a single before senior third baseman Jillian Russell (London, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic) delivered a two-out RBI single.

In the fifth, the Cardinals scored a pair of runs behind three hits and an error to take a 2-1 lead before the Vulcans answered with a run in the bottom of the inning. Freshman center fielder Katie Natter (Baldwin, Pa./Baldwin) started the inning with a single and moved over to third on a sacrifice bunt and fly-out. Russell followed with another two-out RBI single through the left side of the infield to tie game at 2-2.

With international tiebreaker rules in effect, Saginaw Valley was held scoreless in the top of the eighth despite advancing a runner to third with only one out. In the bottom of the inning, Cal U executed a sacrifice bunt before the Cardinals intentionally walked the next two batters to load the bases. With the bases loaded and one out, senior catcher Alyson Johnson (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg Central) lined a game-winning, walk-off single to center field to lift the Vulcans to a 4-3 win.

Sophomore Kaitlyn Schilling (Morrisville, Pa./Pennsbury) earned the complete-game victory, yielding two runs (both earned) on seven hits in 8.0 innings. Saginaw Valley starter Jillian Williamson was saddled with the loss after allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits and three walks.

Johnson, Russell and Wideman each collected a pair of hits in the victory, combing for six of the team's eight hits. Russell also registered her fourth multi-RBI game of the season against the Cardinals.

Against St. Cloud State, sophomore Hope Spancake (Pine Grove, Pa./Pine Grove) tossed a three-hit, complete-game shutout. She registered a season-high six strikeouts in 6.0 innings against the Huskies while improving to 1-1 this year. Huskies starter Kendra Merritt suffered the loss after allowing four runs (all earned) on three hits in 3.1 innings.

The Vulcans took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second with a solo homer by Johnson, the 31st of her career. Cal U loaded the basses in the third and added to its lead with an RBI sacrifice fly by Russell, 2-0.

Cal U broke the game open in the fifth, scoring five runs on four singles and two walks. Johnson started the inning with a single and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and stolen base. Following a walk, freshman right fielder Shelby Heyd (Innisfil, Ontario/Nantyr Shores Secondary) and Natter collected back-to-back RBI singles. After another walk loaded the bases, sophomore first baseman Shelby Lia (Whitby, Ontario/Donald A. Wilson) delivered a two-run single before Russell tallied another run on a sacrifice fly, 7-0.

In the sixth, the Vulcans forced the run-rule victory when Natter belted a solo homer (second of the season).

Heyd and Johnson each went 2-for-3 with one RBI and two runs scored, while Natter finished 2-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored. Lia and Russell both collected a pair of RBI in the victory.

Cal U continues play at the Rebel Spring Games tomorrow, Friday, March 9, when it faces Minnesota State Mankato and Ferris State (Mich.), starting at 1 p.m.