California Baptist University
BYU-Hawaii
DOUBLE DOSE
2/8/2008 8:00:00 AM | Softball
RIVERSIDE, Calif. ? Sarah Hurlbut went 4-for-5 to help lead California Baptist to an 8-0, 10-2 doubleheader win over BYU-Hawaii in the Lancers' 2008 home opener. The sophomore was a perfect 2-for-2 in opening game with a solo home run.
“She's on fire right now,” said CBU head coach Mike Smith. “I'm not saying anything to her. I don't want to change anything because she's swinging such a hot bat. We need her to be successful at the five or six spot.”
The Lancers (5-1) needed just five innings in each game to put away the Seasiders (0-2) scoring a run-rule in each game.
“(Katrina) Veazie had us a little off balance a little bit in the first game, but our girls figured her out and started hitting the ball,” said Smith. “We did a great job of making adjustments and swinging the bat. In the second game, we didn't panic after going down 2-0. We knew we could swing the bats, and having played four games last week, we knew we could score.”
Both Amy Thomas (2-1) and Melanie Ahumada (3-0) picked up wins with Thomas throwing a complete game in the opener while Ahumada went the first four innings of the nightcap. Thomas allowed just four hits and struck out four. Ahumada allowed just two hits and struck out two.
“We had great pitching performances all the way around,” said Smith. “It's a pleasant surprise to see Melanie doing so well. She never panicked even though there were a couple of errors. She's really stepping up where we need her to.”
In the opener, Erin Moore broke the game wide open in the bottom of the third when she blasted a three-run home run to left center. Hurlbut followed Moore with a solo shot herself to help give the Lancers a 5-0 lead. A Nicole Shoemaker single and a Kelly Maconachy double made it 7-0 through the third inning.
Shoemaker scored the game winning run, in the bottom of the fifth, when she crossed the plate on a Briana Corral double.
In the nightcap, the Seasiders jumped out early in the top of the first scoring a pair of runs, but CBU answered with back-to-back four-run innings to take an 8-2 lead through the firs two innings. CBU put it away with a pair of runs in the fourth before Jami Escalante closed it out with an inning of work allowing no hits.
Chantal Millard went 2-for-3 in the nightcap as her and Hurlbut were the only Lancers with multiple hits. Shoemaker drove in a pair of runs.
California Baptist will now host Dixie State tomorrow for a noon doubleheader. The Lancers have already split games with the Rebels.
