California Baptist University
Concordia
READY FOR THE STORM
3/27/2007 7:00:00 AM | Softball
Millard went 5-for-7, with 4 doubles and a home run, as the NAIA's No. 1-ranked Lancers swept No. 23 Concordia, 11-3, 9-1 in conference play.
The pair of wins bump the Lancers up to 33-1, 8-0, as the Eagles fall to 24-11, 4-8 on the campaign.
The Lancer shortstop doubled and homered en route to 3 RBI and 3 runs in the opener, as California Baptist overcame a mild first-inning deficit to get Candice Thomas the win.
The Eagles capitalized on a pair of Lancer errors on the first 2 plays of the game, as Caitlin Senkbeil's sacrifice fly plated Ashley Evans for an unearned run, giving Concordia a 1-0 lead before the Lancers came to bat.
But California Baptist made their at-bats count in the bottom of the inning, as 3 of the first 4 batters of the game reached base?including Millard on a double?in a 3-run first inning.
With the bases loaded and one out, Shawna Rainwater blasted a Natalie Brown offering deep into centerfield, but Evans was able to track the ball down and make the grab as her momentum carried her crashing through the temporary outfield fencing and robbing Rainwater of a grand slam.
The Lancers scored 6 runs and benefited from a trio of Eagle errors in the fourth inning, as Kelly Maconachy led off with a walk and came around to score on Sara Goforth's triple. Goforth, who then scored on Millard's 2-run homer, singled later in the inning and finished the game with 3 hits en route to a 4-hit, 3-run afternoon.
In picking up a win to improve to 16-1, Thomas allowed 3 runs (2 earned) on 5 hits and 2 walks, while she struck out 3 Eagles on the afternoon. She allowed her only 2 earnies on a 2-run homer from Senkbeil in the fifth inning, but Geanie Jenkins and Erin Moore both doubled in a 2-run bottom of the fifth to make the final score 11-3.
Brown took the loss to drop to 9-5 on the season. She went 4 innings, allowing 10 runs (7 earned) on 9 hits and 5 free passes while striking out 5 Lancers on the afternoon.
Although she did give up a run in the nightcap, GSAC Pitcher of the Week Amy Thomas still managed to stretch her streak of innings without allowing an earned run to 71.2 frames, with 6 innings, where she surrendered 5 hits and did not issue a walk but struck out 4 batters to improve to 17-0.
The Lancers were on the receiving end of 6 wild pitches in the win, as Millard led the way with 3 hits and 2 runs, and Rainwater knocked in a couple of runs with a double and a single, as California Baptist cruised to the 9-1 victory.
Millard and Lowe rocked back-to-back doubles in a 6-run fifth inning, as the Lancers handed Kory Briggs (5-3) the loss. Briggs went 5.2 frames, allowing 9 earned runs on 11 hits and 4 walks while she struck out 4 on the afternoon.
