WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (March 8) – The Vulcans finished with a 2-6 record while playing teams from six different states and six different conferences, plus one independent, at the PFX Spring Games during their annual spring trip to Florida.

Junior Caleigh Rister led the team with a .440 average (11-for-25) while splitting time in the circle and the outfield. Senior Britney Wilson started at four different positions and hit at a .423 clip (11-for-26) with a team-leading five runs scored. Junior Kaitlyn Achtermeier paced the team with seven RBI while starting at three different positions in the infield, plus once in the outfield.

Senior Alyssa Rose earned both victories and posted three complete games while in the circle at the PFX Spring Games. She tallied 21 strikeouts over 23.2 innings pitched in six appearances. Rister totaled 21.2 innings pitched over four starts while in Florida.

SUNDAY, MARCH 3
The California (PA) softball team was forced to cancel its games against Bemidji State (Minn.) and Notre Dame (Ohio) due to rain in Central Florida.

MONDAY, MARCH 4
The Vulcans dropped their opening games of the year versus Montana State Billings and Staten Island (N.Y.). Cal held a 2-1 lead midway through the fifth inning before suffering a 6-2 loss to MSUB. Junior left fielder Carlena Fiorilli collected a pair of hits in the contest. Against CSI, the Vulcans lost by a 4-1 count after scoring their lone run on a sacrifice fly in the fifth. Rose registered eight strikeouts and surrendered two earned runs in a complete game.

TUESDAY, MARCH 5
Cal posted a split against Winona State (Minn.) and Saint Rose (N.Y.). Versus Winona State, Cal dropped a 6-4 contest after stranding runners on the corners to end the game. Wilson tallied three hits, while Fiorilli finished with two hits. Senior catcher Shayna Postler delivered a two-run single against the Warriors. The Vulcans earned their initial win of the year with an 8-1 run-victory against Saint Rose. Rister posted three hits, one RBI and two runs scored, while Rose registered two hits and three RBI while earning the win after working 5.0 innings in the circle. Fiorilli and junior transfer shortstop Brianna Sersevic both added two hits and one run scored in the victory.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6
The Vulcans were idle.

THURSDAY, MARCH 7
Cal dropped games versus both Quincy (Ill.) and Minnesota State. The Vulcans scored once in the bottom of the seventh before stranding the bases loaded in a 5-3 loss to Quincy. Sophomore Makaylia Schlosser posted a pair of hits and Achtermeier recorded two hits and two RBI in the contest. All five runs scored by the Hawks were unearned off Rister, who finished with six strikeouts over 7.0 innings. Against MSU, Cal battled from allowing seven runs in the first inning to drop a 10-5 contest. Rister tallied three hits and one run scored from the leadoff spot, while Wilson posted a pair of hits and two runs scored. The contest was a meeting of NFCA Hall of Fame head coaches that each have led their respective programs to NCAA National Championships.

FRIDAY, MARCH 8
The Vulcans closed play in The Sunshine State with a split against No. 5 Grand Valley State (Mich.) and Salem. Cal suffered an 8-0 run-rule loss to the nationally-ranked Lakers, which advanced to the NCAA National Championship Series last season. GV senior Ashley Platek tossed a no-hitter in the 5.0-inning contest. The Vulcans scored four runs in the first inning while capturing a 6-0 win against Salem. Wilson registered four hits, including a solo homer in the first inning, and two RBI, while Rister posted two hits and one RBI.

NEXT
The Vulcans are idle for over 10 days before opening PSAC West play with a home doubleheader against Pitt-Johnstown at Lilley Field on March 19.