CLERMONT, Fla. (March 9) – The California University of Pennsylvania softball team split a pair of games on Saturday while opening play at the PFX Spring Games, highlighted by a 4-3 victory over defending-NCAA National Champion Southern Indiana.

With the split, the Vulcans move to 1-7 this season after playing a pair of Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) teams on Saturday.

Against the Screaming Eagles (11-10), senior Taylor Robblee (Woodstock, Ontario/College Avenue) earned a complete-game victory to move to 1-2 this season. She yielded three runs (all earned) on six hits with no walks and three strikeouts. Robblee has limited opponents to a .198 batting average over 20.0 innings pitched this season. USI senior Haylee Smith (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing three runs (all earned) on four hits in 2.0 innings of relief.

USI took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first on three hits, including a solo homer by catcher Lindsey Barr. The Screaming Eagles later opened the third with a double and the runner advanced to third on a ground-out. However, Robblee induced another ground-out that forced the runner to hold before striking out Barr to end the inning.

In the bottom of the third, senior center fielder Abby Sachse (Sugarloaf, Pa./Hazleton) belted a solo homer that apparently cut into the deficit. However, the umpires ruled Sachse out and the run was negated after she never touched home plate. The Vulcans then responded by mounting a two-out rally with sophomore third baseman Alexa Pastor (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) reaching on a single before sophomore catcher Brooke Wilson (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) followed with a double. Robblee then delivered an RBI single before Cal U stranded the bases loaded.

Cal U later seized the lead in the bottom of the fifth by scoring three runs on four hits. Pastor and Wilson collected back-to-back singles before Pastor later scored on an RBI single by junior left fielder Sierra Besser-Paul (Montreal, Quebec/Howard S. Billings). Wilson and Besser-Paul both advanced into scoring position on the single before senior first baseman Emilee Downing (Groveport, Ohio/Groveport Madison) recorded a two-run single – her first hit since 2017; converted to pitcher last season.

Wilson went 3-for-3 with one run scored from the leadoff spot, while Pastor finished 2-for-2 with two runs scored.

Against Truman State (5-1), the Vulcans trailed 4-2 before the Bulldogs scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Downing was saddled with the loss after yielding four runs (three earned) on four hits and three walks in 3.1 innings. Truman State starter Lauren Dale (3-1) earned the victory after surrendering two runs (both earned) on five hits and two walks in 6.0 innings.

The Bulldogs mounted a two-out rally with three-straight hits in the top the first that was capped by a two-run double. Truman State added to the lead in the second with two runs on four hits before Cal U answered in the fourth. Besser-Paul led off with a single and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and wild pitch. Senior designated player Carly Konopka (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) then collected an RBI single – her first hit since 2017; served as strictly a pitcher last year – before later scoring from second on a single by freshman second baseman Kaitlyn Corle (Hopewell, Pa./Northern Bedford).

Cal U again threatened in the top of the fifth with Robblee and Besser-Paul in scoring position following a sacrifice bunt after reaching on a walk and single. However, the Bulldogs ended the inning with a strikeout to preserve the 4-2 lead. In the bottom of the inning, Truman State took advantage of an error and walk to start the inning. Following a sacrifice bunt, the Bulldogs collected back-to-back hits that led to three runs.

Besser-Paul tallied three of the team's five hits, finishing 3-for-4 with one run scored.

The Vulcans continue play at the PFX Spring Games tomorrow, Sunday, March 10, when they face Bentley (Mass.) and Hillsdale (Mich.), starting at 9:45 a.m.