DAVENPORT, Fla. (March 8) – The Vulcans earned a pair of victories on Tuesday afternoon at THE Spring Games, claiming a 4-0 win over American International (Mass.) before belting three homers in an 8-7 victory against Wheeling.

With the wins, the California University of Pennsylvania softball team improves to 7-5 this season. The Vulcans have played teams from five different conferences during their trip to Florida.

Against American International (1-3), freshman Caleigh Rister (Bucyrus, Ohio/Bucyrus) improved to 4-1 this season after recording her third complete-game shutout this spring. She scattered three hits and one walk while setting a season high with six strikeouts in 7.0 innings. Rister faced the minimum through the opening four innings before the Yellow Jackets managed one base runner in each of the last three innings.

The Vulcans took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second on a bases-loaded single by sophomore first baseman Shayna Postler (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park). Cal U added to the lead in the third with an RBI double by sophomore third baseman Britney Wilson (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) following back-to-back walks.

In the fourth, Cal U mounted a two-out rally to extend the lead to 3-0 on an RBI double by sophomore right fielder Charity Henderson (Scottdale, Pa./Southmoreland). The Vulcans stranded the bases loaded in the fifth before adding an insurance run in the sixth on a two-out RBI single by Wilson, 4-0.

Wilson went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI against the Yellow Jackets, while Rister scored two runs.

Versus Wheeling (6-5), the Vulcans set a season high with three homers and held off a late rally by the Cardinals. Senior catcher Brooke Wilson (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) finished 2-for-3 with a two-run homer and two runs scored, while freshman shortstop Kaitlyn Achtermeier (Gilford, Ontario/Bill Crothers) went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer and two runs scored.

The Vulcans forced the Cardinals to leave the bases loaded in the top of the second before Cal U scored twice in the bottom of the inning. Junior center fielder Mackenzie Carson (Tucson, Ariz./Cienega) collected an RBI single before Poster scored on a wild pitch, 2-0. Wheeling took advantage of two errors in the third to trim the deficit to 2-1 on a bases-loaded walk. Cal U responded with a two-run homer by Achtermeier, her third of the year, in the bottom of the third to take a 4-1 lead.

In the fourth, the Cardinals countered with four runs to claim a 5-4 lead behind a two-run homer by first baseman Brooke Slomkowski. Cal U answered with a two-run homer by Brooke Wilson in the fourth following a two-out walk by Rister, 6-5.

Britney Wilson registered a solo homer, her second of the season, in the fifth before both teams scored once the sixth inning. The Vulcans added an insurance run on a two-out RBI single by Brooke Wilson to take an 8-6 lead. Cal U retired the first two batters in the seventh before designated player Autumn Oehlstrom reached on a single and scored on a double by catcher Gina Fogle to trim the deficit to 8-7. Fogle advanced to third on a wild pitch before a ground-out ended the game.

Senior Kelsey Barron (La Salle, Mich./St. Mary Catholic Central) improved to 3-3 this year after working 4.1 innings of relief. She allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits and four walks against Wheeling. Barron also finished with a season-high six strikeouts in the victory.

Cal U continues play at THE Spring Games tomorrow, Wednesday, March, 9, against USciences (Pa.) and Bemidji State (Minn.), starting at 10 a.m.