California Baptist University
Dickinson State University (N.D.)
LOWE DOWN DOUBLE
5/19/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
DECATUR, Ala. --- When a player with the last name "Lowe" goes deep twice on the team from "Wise, Virginia", cliches just come too easy.
Nikki Lowe socked a leadoff homer in the fourth inning after the NAIA's No. 1-ranked and top-seeded California Baptist had been held scoreless throughout the first 3 innings by unseeded Virginia-Wise, and bashed a 3-run shot to ice the cake in the seventh inning in the Lancers', 10-1, thumping of the Highland Cavaliers to open the day's action.
Lowe, a 2006 NAIA All-Tournament selection, also singled and scored a run in a, 5-0, victory over Dickinson State (N.D.), as the Lancers enter the second and final day of pool play with 2 wins under their belt.
"She's picked up right where she left off last year," said California Baptist head coach Mike Smith. "She had a big hit in the second inning of game 2, and obviously had a couple of big hits in the opener. Nikki's been a consistent player all year long and a great RBI producer at the No. 3 spot in the lineup."
Lowe, who drove in 4 runs and scored 3 on the day, posted her first multi-homer game of the season and second in her career in game one, but her double and Shawna Rainwater's single represented the only offense CBU could muster throughout the first 3 innings of game one, until she broke through with a solo shot to lead off the fourth.
With a run already plated in the frame, Geanie Jenkins figured she'd join in the fun, with a double to the left-field gap to follow up Lowe's leadoff homer. Jenkins then scored on Casandrah Carreon's single to center, and the Lancers went ahead 3-0 when Rainwater squeezed Carreon in.
Chantal Millard's solo shot in the fifth inning made the advantage 4-0 California Baptist, but Virginia-Wise pulled to within 3 in the bottom of the frame when Mary Wilson doubled with one out and scored on Hannah Ellis' RBI single. The Lancers again tacked on 3 runs on Erin Moore's 3-run homer in the sixth inning to make the score 7-1 before Lowe's second homer of the game made the final score 10-1.
"We finally got the production we're looking for out of our 5-6 spots in the order today," said Smith. "Erin swung that bat very well today with a homer in the first game and a double in game 2. She's taken the bull by the horns this season and really produced as our designated player."
Candice Thomas (29-1) picked up the win after throwing 5 innings where she allowed just the one earned run on 6 hits, one walk and 4 strikeouts. Meanwhile, Amanda Wheeler (14-11) took the loss after surrendering 3 earned runs on 5 hits in 4 innings while walking none and recording one punchout.
Amy Thomas, who hurled the last 2 innings in game one, tossed 7 shutout innings to earn the win in game 2 and improve to 25-2 on the campaign. She allowed just 6 hits, issued a pair of walks and struck out 2 in the victory, as California Baptist earned sufficient support for the win in the first inning, with 4 runs.
After Sara Goforth drew a leadoff walk, Millard followed with a single, and both came around to score on an errant throw by the catcher, putting Dickinson State in an immediate, 2-0, hole. Lowe then followed up with a single and would later score--along with Jenkins--on an RBI double by Moore to make the score 4-0.
The Blue Hawks threatened in the top of the fourth, loading the bases with 2 outs and their leadoff hitter, Tiffany Saatzer--who was hitting .468 coming into the game, but Thomas bore down after a visit from Smith, coaxing an inning-ending foulout on a 2-2 count.
"I just went to tell her to keep calm and don't change her approach," said Smith. "We were trying to jam Saatzer in, and we were able to get in on her hands. It was huge."
A leadoff walk to Sarah Hurlbut in the bottom of the fourth led to the Lancers' fifth and final run. California Baptist, the NAIA's 2-time NAIA National Champion runner up, faces the NAIA's defending champion Mobile (Ala.) at 9 a.m. (CST) before squaring off against Savannah Arts & Design (Ga.) at 4:30 p.m. (CST).
