TUCSON, Ariz. (Feb. 20) – The Vulcans closed out play at the D2 Cactus Classic by scoring a combined 25 runs in two victories on Sunday afternoon, capturing an 11-2 run-rule win over Colorado Christian before earning a 14-2 victory over Western New Mexico.

With the sweep, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team improves to 3-3 this season. The Vulcans scored a combined 34 runs over the final four games in Arizona after suffering a pair of run-rule losses to open the campaign on Friday.

Against Colorado Christian (10-4), which advanced to the finals of the 2021 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Tournament, the Vulcans tallied 14 hits with five players collecting multi-hit games. Freshman first baseman Caleigh Rister (Bucyrus, Ohio/Bucyrus) went 3-for-4 with three doubles, two RBI and three runs scored from the leadoff spot. Freshman shortstop Kaitlyn Achtermeier (Gilford, Ontario/Bill Crothers) finished 2-for-4 with a two run-homer, while sophomore third baseman Britney Wilson (Coraopolis, Pa./Allegheny) collected two hits and scored two runs. Freshman left fielder Carlena Fiorilli (Mount Vernon, Ohio/Mount Vernon) and senior second baseman Alexa Pastor (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) both tallied two hits and scored one run in the victory.

Cal U took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly before scoring four runs on five hits with two outs in the second. Rister delivered a bases-loaded double to score two runs before junior center fielder Mackenze Carson (Tucson, Ariz./Cienega) followed with a two-run single, 5-0.

The Cougars scored on a two-out RBI single in the third before the Vulcans countered with a run in the bottom of the inning and stretched the lead to 7-1 on a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning. CCU scored in the top of the sixth before Cal U forced the run-rule victory with four runs on just one hit in the bottom of the inning. The Vulcans scored twice runs on an error before Achtermeier belted her first career home run, 11-2.

Senior Kelsey Barron (La Salle, Mich./St. Mary Catholic Central) earned the complete-game victory to improve to 2-1 this season. She allowed two runs (both earned) on seven hits and one walk over 6.0 innings on Sunday.

Facing Western New Mexico (3-10) for the second time on the trip, Cal U scored a season-high 14 run behind 14 hits and six walks. Rister finished 3-for-6 with two triples, three RBI and two runs scored, while Wilson went 3-for-5 with one RBI and one run scored while hitting cleanup. Pastor collected two hits, two RBI and one run scored and sophomore right fielder Charity Henderson (Scottdale, Pa./Albert Gallatin) posted two hits and one run scored. Sophomore designated player Salena Jaquay (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) scored three runs after reaching on two walks and one single.

The Vulcans claimed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on an RBI double by Wilson before Pastor posted an RBI single in the second inning. WNMU tied the score at 2-2 in the third on a two-run homer by right fielder Bree Simmons. Cal U answered with an RBI triple by Rister in the top of the fourth before she scored on a sacrifice fly, 4-2.

In the fifth, Cal U capitalized on a pair of errors and scored three runs to extend the lead to 7-2. Jaquay delivered a two-out RBI single in the sixth before the Vulcans closed the game with six runs in the top of the seventh. Pastor started the inning with a single and Rister followed with another RBI triple. Following a sacrifice fly, Wilson mounted a two-out rally with a single before scoring on a triple by senior Kaitlyn Corle (Hopewell, Pa./Northern Bedford). Fiorilli later drew a bases-load walk before two runs scored on an error.

Rister also earned the victory after yielding two runs (both earned) on seven hits and zero walks in 6.0 innings of relief. She entered the circle following a leadoff walk in the bottom of the second.

The Vulcans are idle for nearly two weeks before traveling to Davenport, Florida, for 10 games from March 5-10.