BARTOW, Fla. (March 9) – The California (PA) softball team posted a split on Monday afternoon while opening play at THE Spring Games against a pair of fellow Atlantic Region programs, earning an 8-7 walk-off victory over Point Park before dropping an 8-2 contest to Glenville State.
VS POINT PARK
• The Pioneers (1-6) and Vulcans were meeting for the first time since Point Park joined NCAA Division II.
• Cal scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the score before senior shortstop
Jenna Hollerich delivered a walk-off RBI double to score freshman right fielder
Savanna Benish from second base, 8-7.
• Sophomore third baseman
Makayla Jerin posted three hits and four RBI, while sophomore second baseman
Amarah McCutcheon finished with two hits and two runs scored.
• Benish and freshman left fielder
Indyana Bolyea both collected two hits and one run scored in the victory.
• The Vulcans scored on two errors in the first and added three runs in the third inning to claim a 4-3 lead.
• Point Park responded in the top of the fifth with four runs (three unearned) to seize a 7-4 advantage.
• Cal mounted a two-out rally in the sixth by loading the bases on two singles and a walk before Jerin delivered a three-run, game-tying double.
• Senior
Megan Nidoh earned the victory after working 2.1 innings of scoreless relief without surrendering a hit.
VS GLENVILLE STATE
• The Pioneers (11-3) finished last year with 36 overall victories, their most since the 2013 campaign.
• Glenville State scored twice in the first before shortstop Delany Warnick belted a grand slam with two outs in the bottom of the second, 6-0.
• In the sixth, McCutcheon lined a two-out triple and scored on a single by Jerin.
• The Vulcans added a run on a fielder's choice in the seventh after senior
Lakyn Blackburn led off the inning with a pinch-hit double.
• Freshman
Autumn Bielecki (1-3) suffered the loss after surrendering six runs (all earned) on five hits and three walks in 1.2 innings.
• Bolyea logged 3.1 innings of relief and allowed one run (earned) on one hit and five walks.
NEXT
• Cal returns to action in Florida tomorrow, Tuesday, March 10, when it faces McKendree (IL) and Northwood (MI) with play starting at 10 a.m.
