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CALIFORNIA (April 6) – The No. 25 Vulcans captured a 13-1 run-rule victory in five innings during Game 1 against Slippery Rock in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play on Friday afternoon before falling 6-4 in the nightcap at Lilley Field despite having the game-tying run in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh.

With the split, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team moves to 24-6 overall. The Vulcans are now tied with Gannon for first place in the divisional standings at 6-2 after the first round of league play. Meanwhile, Slippery Rock is now 9-12 this season and 2-6 in PSAC West action.

In Game 1, the Vulcans took a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first behind a two-run homer and a two-out fielding error. Sophomore second baseman Natalie Wideman (Mississauga, Ontario/Streetsville Secondary) opened with a leadoff double before scoring on a two-run homer by senior third baseman Jillian Russell (London, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic), her 10th of the season and 43rd career. After back-to-back hits, Cal U had runners on second and third before both runners scored on a two-out fielding error.

In the second, Slippery Rock started the inning with a solo homer by Kristen Brant and later had a pair of runners on base before sophomore Hope Spancake (Pine Grove, Pa./Pine Grove) struck out the next two batters to end the inning. Cal U countered in the bottom of the inning with an RBI double by freshman center fielder Katie Natter (Baldwin, Pa./Baldwin) that scored Wideman from first, 5-1. The Rock managed to load the bases with no outs in the third before Spancake worked out of the inning without allowing a run.

The Vulcans forced the run-rule victory by scoring eight runs on seven hits in the bottom of the fourth, 13-1. Sophomore left fielder Stephani Ellis (Vancouver, British Columbia/Prince of Wales Secondary) drew a bases-loaded walk to stretch the lead to 6-1 before freshman right fielder Shelby Heyd (Innisfil, Ontario/Nantyr Shores Secondary) belted a grand slam, her second homer of the season. With two outs in the inning, sophomore first baseman Shelby Lia (Whitby, Ontario/Donald A. Wilson) reached on a double and stole third before senior Kristen McKenzie (Senneville, Quebec/St. Thomas) followed with a pinch-hit RBI single. Later in the inning, Russell collected a two-out, two-run single to give the Vulcans a 13-1 lead.

Russell went 3-for-4 with one double, one homer, four RBI and two runs scored in Game 1. She has now belted six homers in the last five games while tallying 13 RBI during that span. The trio of Heyd, Natter and Wideman each collected two hits and Wideman scored three times.

Spancake improve to 12-2 this season after limiting The Rock to one run (earned) on three hits and a season-high five walks in 5.0 innings (91 pitches). Slippery Rock starter Shaylee Ianno was saddled with the loss after being roughed up for 13 runs (11 earned) on 14 hits and three walks in 4.0 innings (117 pitches).

In the nightcap, The Rock broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fifth by posting three runs, including a solo homer by designated player Elizibeth Gorges. Cal U answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning with Wideman collecting a bases-loaded RBI single and Lia later scoring from third on a throwing error, 3-2. Slippery Rock countered with another three runs in the sixth to stretch its lead to 6-2 behind a two-run homer by Gorges.

The Vulcans looked continue their late-game heroics in the bottom of the seventh, scoring two runs on three hits and one error. With runners on the corners and one out, Russell and Ellis lined back-to-back RBI singles down the right-field line to the cut deficit to 6-4. Following a ground-out, Cal U had a pair of runners in scoring position with the game-winning run at the plate before Slippery Rock induced a pop-up to close the game.

Sophomore Kaitlyn Schilling (Morrisville, Pa./Pennsbury) suffered the loss after allowing a season-high six runs (all earned) on nine hits and two walks in 5.2 innings (76 pitches). The Rock's Ashley Knight (3-5) earned the win after surrendering four runs (two earned) on eight hits with 10 strikeouts in 7.0 innings (113 pitches).

Wideman extended her hitting streak to 10 games, finishing 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored. Natter and Russell both tallied a pair of hits in the loss during Game 2.

The Vulcans return to action tomorrow, Saturday, April 7, when they travel to face Millersville for a doubleheader, starting at 1 p.m. Live stats of the games will be available by clicking here.

Note: Slippery Rock is led by first-year head coach Beck (Mezyk) Sciacca, who was a standout pitcher/utility for the Vulcans from 2003-06.