CLERMONT, Fla. (March 8) – The Vulcans used a three-run fifth inning on Sunday afternoon to claim a split in a pair of contests at the PFX Spring Games, earning a 4-3 victory over Wayne State (Neb.) before suffering an 8-6 loss to Bemidji State (Minn.).

With the split, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team moves to 2-8 this season while playing teams from seven different states.

Against Wayne State (5-11), freshman Ellie Lobdell (Warren, Pa./Warren) earned a complete-game victory to move to 2-2 this year. She allowed three runs (two earned) while scattering four hits and zero walks over 7.0 innings with five strikeouts. Wayne State freshman Slogan Cooksey suffered the loss after yielding three runs (all earned) on three hits and four walks in 4.0 innings of relief.

The Vulcans loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the first before a ground-out halted the inning. Cal U took a 1-0 lead in the third when redshirt junior first baseman Paige Wilson (Warren, Pa./Warren) scored on a ground-out. The Vulcans again threatened with the bases loaded in the top of the fourth before the Wildcats responded in the bottom of the inning with a two-run homer by third baseman Ashley Hernandez, 2-1.

In the fifth, Cal U loaded the bases for the third time in the game before junior catcher Brooke Wilson (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) delivered a bases-clearing triple. Wayne State responded in the bottom of the inning when a two-out RBI single scored an unearned run. Lobdell then retired the final seven batters for the Wildcats in order to seal the victory.

Paige Wilson finished 2-for-3 with one run scored, while Brooke Wilson reached base three times (triple, two walks) and totaled three RBI from the leadoff spot.

Against Bemidji State (7-5), the Vulcans scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth and had the bases loaded in the inning before the threat ended with a called third strike. Sophomore Kelsey Barron (La Salle, Mich./St. Mary Catholic Central) was saddled with the loss after surrendering four runs (all earned) on four hits and two walks. Junior Hannah Clunk (New Cumberland, W.Va./Oak Glen) recorded three strikeouts over 2.0 scoreless innings of relief.

The Beavers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a two-out RBI single before the Vulcans responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Barron started the rally with a single and later scored on a bases-loaded walk by Lobdell before Paige Wilson scored on a fielder's choice, 2-1. Bemidji State countered with three runs in the second before adding a solo homer by third baseman Lexi Derrick in the fourth.

Cal U trimmed the deficit to 5-3 in the fifth when Brooke Wilson scored from second on an RBI single by Paige Wilson. The Beavers countered with a three-run homer by shortstop Oliva Tucker in the top of the sixth before Clunk entered the circle and recorded back-to-back strikeouts.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Vulcans opened the inning with consecutive walks before junior shortstop Alexa Pastor (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) reached on a single to load the bases. Freshman second baseman Kira Hillhouse (Erie, Pa./McDowell) scored on a ground-out before Brooke Wilson followed with an RBI single. Barron then scored on a fielder's choice that allowed Pastor to score from third. Paige Wilson followed with a single to load the bases before a pop-up and strikeout ended the inning.

Brooke Wilson, Barron and Paige Wilson each posted a pair of hits, one RBI and one run scored in the loss.

The Vulcans continue play in Florida on Tuesday, March 10, when they face Salem and Saint Thomas Aquinas (N.Y.), starting at 1:45 p.m.