California Baptist University
Northwest Nazarene University
SPLITTING OPENING DAY
2/1/2008 8:00:00 AM | Softball
ST. GEORGE, Utah ? Nikki Lowe went a combined 3-for-5 as she helped No. 2 California Baptist claim a 3-1 win over Northwest Nazarene, but CBU fell 7-2 to Dixie State.
“It was cold up there and we had problems adjusting to several things,” said CBU head coach Mike Smith. “It was nice to get that first win, but we just had a few cob webs after practicing against each other for so long. We have been seeing our own pitchers too much and that may have hurt us when we saw different pitching today.”
The Lancers (1-1) opened their 2008 season with a win behind newcomer Melanie Ahumada (1-0) who pitched the first five innings allowing just six hits and no earned runs. Despite a season-opening win, CBU had troubles dealing with Dixie State who jumped out early and never let up.
“Melanie came out in her first outing and did a good job in her first five innings for us,” said Smith. “She also came in and had some good relief for Amy in the game against Dixie.”
Lowe along with Sara Goforth went 2-for-3 at the plate against the Raiders with Lowe driving in a run with a triple in the first inning. Goforth led off the inning with a double to left and then scored on Lowe's triple. The Raiders answered in the top of the second to tie the game at one, but CBU answered again in the third.
Chantal Millard picked up her first home run of the year when she belted a two-run shot to left-center in the third. That was all the Lancers needed to pick up the win. That was Millard's only hit of the day. Freshman Caty Reeves and senior Kelly Maconachy also had solo hits for CBU.
Amy Thomas threw two innings of relief for Ahumada, allowing two hits and striking out four.
In the second game, the Rebels broke a scoreless tie, in the bottom of the second, with a five-run barrage. Four of those five runs crossed the plate with two outs as Dixie rallied with three straight hits. The Rebels scored two more in the fifth on a one-out single.
CBU's bats came to life in the top of the sixth when Goforth and Millard started the inning with back-to-back singles. Reeves then drove in both with a pinch-hit single that was ripped back up the middle.
Thomas (0-1) took the loss for CBU going five innings and striking out eight, but allowed eight hits and five earned runs. Ahumada threw one inning of relief allowing just one hit and fanned one batter.
“We just didn't swing the bats as well as we can and we made several mental mistakes,” said Smith. “We have a pretty young team and they may have been a little nervous, but we really need those young players to mature quickly to be successful.”
The Lancers will take on the same two teams, Saturday, with a 10 a.m. game against Northwest Nazarene and a 3 p.m. game against Dixie State.
