COLUMBUS, Ga. (Feb. 26) - The California (PA) softball team opened the season by posting a 4-2 record over the weekend at the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Leadoff Classic, as all six games were against schools from different conferences and different states.

The Vulcans posted a .379 average and totaled 18 extra-base hits over the six games. Junior Charity Henderson (Scottdale, Pa./Southmoreland) paced the offense with a .579 average (11-for-19), five doubles, 12 RBI and seven runs scored. Sophomore Carlena Fiorilli (Mount Vernon, Ohio/Mount Vernon) also hit at a .579 clip (11-for-19) with six runs scored, while classmate Kaitlyn Achtermeier (Gilford, Ontario/Bill Crothers) finished with a .563 average (9-for-16), four doubles and nine RBI.

Additionally, Henderson was named to the NFCA Leadoff Classic All-Tournament Team following the conclusion of play on Sunday.

Cal finished the weekend with a 2.53 ERA and registered 36 strikeouts over 36.0 innings pitched. Sophomore Caleigh Rister (Bucyrus, Ohio/Bucyrus) posted a 2-0 record and one save, plus didn't allow an earned run in 10.1 innings. At the plate, she hit at a .421 clip and scored eight runs.

The Vulcans continue their southern trip with 10 games at the PFX Spring Games from March 1-7 in Clermont, Florida. Cal is set to play a pair of nationally-ranked teams in the Sunshine State, including defending-National Champion Rogers State (Okla.).

Game 1 - California 10, Hillsdale 2 (5 innings): The Vulcans scored in every inning of the contest, as four players collected multi-hit games. Achtermeier went 3-for-3 with five RBI and one run scored, while junior Britney Wilson (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny) finished 3-for-4 with two RBI. Henderson tallied two hits, two RBI and three runs scored, while Rister posted two hits, one RBI and three runs scored. Rister earned the complete-game victory after yielding two runs (both unearned) on four hits while recording eight strikeouts in 5.0 innings.

Game 2 - California 7, Bridgeport 4: The Vulcans scored four runs in the top of the fourth to erase a deficit and earned the win over the three-time, defending-ECC Champion Knights. Wilson collected three hits and one RBI and Achtermeier posted two hits, one RBI and two runs scored. Henderson and junior Shayna Postler (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) both finished with two hits and one RBI. Junior Alyssa Rose (Madison, Ohio/Madison) was credited with the win after allowing one run (unearned) on three hits in 3.1 innings of relief while totaling five strikeouts.

Game 3 - California 6, Georgia Southwestern 5: Cal broke a tie in the third inning before Rister forced GSW to leave five runners on base over the last two innings. Fiorilli went 3-for-4 with one run scored and Henderson finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Freshman Makaylia Schlosser (Mount Vernon, Ohio/Mount Vernon) collected two hits and two runs scored. Freshman Kailey Larcinese (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) earned the victory in relief after working 2.2 innings, while Rister registered the save by posting 1.1 innings of relief.

Game 4 - California 11, Shaw 3 (6 innings): The Vulcans scored five runs in the fifth inning to force the run-rule victory over the Bears. Henderson posted three hits, four RBI and one run scored, while Fiorilli finished with two hits, three RBI and three runs scored. Rister went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and Achtermeier totaled two hits, two RBI and one run scored. Rister posted the win after allowing two runs (both unearned) on two hits with four strikeouts in 4.0 innings pitched.

Game 5 - Northern State 3, California 2: The Vulcans cut the deficit to 3-2 in the top of the seventh before leaving the game-tying run in scoring position. Rister finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and Fiorilli collected a pair of hits. Larcinese suffered the loss after surrendering two runs (both earned) in 2.0 innings of relief.

Game 6 - Georgian Court 16, California 0 (5 innings): Cal suffered the run-rule loss after allowing nine unearned runs and committing five errors against defending-CACC Champion Georgian Court. Fiorilli posted three hits in the loss. Freshman Madison Lester (Boardman, Ohio/Boardman) was saddled with the loss after yielding six runs (all unearned) in 2.2 innings.