CLEARWATER, Fla. (Feb. 10) – The No. 24 Vulcans opened the year with a 3-0 victory over Hillsdale (Mich.) and a 7-1 win against Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.) on Friday at the National Fasptich Coaches Association (NFCA) Leadoff Classic, which features 16 teams from 10 different conferences.

Against Hillsdale, senior Kaity Davis (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson) and sophomore Taylor Robblee (Woodstock, Ontario/College Avenue) combined for complete-game shutout and the Vulcans relied on a pair of two-out hits. Davis (1-0) earned the win after scattering three hits and two walks over 5.0-plus innings (83 pitches) while also recording five strikeouts. Robble recorded the save with 2.0 shutout innings of relief (36 pitches), retiring the last two outs of the game with runners on second and third.

Davis forced Hillsdale to strand runners on first and second in the top of the first before Cal U took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the inning. Senior right fielder Kaity Finley (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) led off the inning with an infield single before scoring from first on a two-out double by junior center fielder Jacquelyn Fowler (Grove City, Ohio/Central Crossing). The Vulcans threatened to add to the lead in both the second and third, as they had runners on first and second with one out before Hillsdale retired the next two batters to close each inning.

In the top of the third, the Chargers had runners on the corners following back-to-back, two-out singles. However, the inning ended on a called pitchout that resulted in a caught stealing at second from senior catcher Megan Jahoda (Buchanan, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) to junior shortstop Emily Price (Warren, Ohio/Howland). Davis retired Hillsdale in order in both the fourth and fifth before issuing a leadoff walk in the sixth. Robblee then retired the next two batters before another caught stealing from Jahoda to Price ended the inning.

The Vulcans added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth behind three singles and a fielding error. Junior first baseman Hailey Wilson (Delaware, Ohio/Olentangy) led off the inning with a single before advancing to second on a bunt single by sophomore pinch hitter Carly Konopka (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township). Following a fly-out, Finley delivered a two-out single down the left field line that scored sophomore pinch runner Logan Blake (Jordan Station, Ontario/Bishop Ridley) from second and a fielding error in the outfield allowed Konopka to score from first.

Hillsdale opened the top of the seventh with a single before a one-out double later gave the Chargers runners on first and second. Robblee then induced a shallow fly-out to right field before fielding a comebacker to close the game.

Wilson went 3-for-3 while hitting No. 7 in the lineup, while Finley tallied two hits, one RBI and one run scored. Fowler also added two hits and one RBI in the victory.

Against Trevecca Nazarene, senior transfer Portia McBride (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) earned the win after tossing 5.1 shutout innings (80 pitches). She scattered four hits and issued two walks while making her debut with the program. Konopka worked 1.1 innings of relief before Robblee recorded the final out of the game.

The Vulcans took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first despite collecting just one hit. Finley led off the game with a hit by pitch before Price reached on a single and both runners advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. Finley scored on a ground-out before Price scored on a two-out throwing error. TNU led off the bottom of the inning with a bunt single and the runner advanced to third before a strikeout ended the inning.

Cal U stranded runners in scoring position in the second and third before adding to its lead with four runs in the fifth. Price reached on a fielding error to start the inning and Robblee followed with a single. After a fly-out, freshman third baseman Paige Wilson (Warren, Pa./Warren) delivered an RBI single before Hailey Wilson reached on a single to load the bases. Jahoda then delivered a two-run single and a throwing error allowed Hailey Wilson to advance to third before scoring on a ground-out.

In the sixth, the Trojans opened the inning with consecutive singles before a sacrifice bunt advanced both runners into scoring position. Konopka then entered the circle in the middle of at-bat that resulted in a walk to load the bases before retiring the next two batters to end the inning. Cal U stretched the lead to 7-0 in the top of the seventh with a two-out single down the right field line by junior left fielder Courtney Sinclair (Oil City, Ontario/Lambton Central). TNU answered with its lone run of the game on two-out single before then loading the bases on an infield single. Robblee then entered the circle and recorded the last out of the game on a called third strike.

Price reached base in all four of her plate appearances against TNU and finished with two hits and two runs scored. Additionally, eight different players collected one hit in the victory.

Cal U continues play at the NFCA Leadoff Classic tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 11, when it faces Eckerd (Fla.) and No. 12 St. Mary's (Texas), starting at 3 p.m.