California Baptist University
University of North Dakota
FROSH ANSWERS BELL
3/5/2008 8:00:00 AM | Softball
RIVERSIDE, Calif. ? California Baptist bounced back after a tough loss yesterday with a pair of wins over No. 11 Lee (5-0) and North Dakota (6-2) to close out its 18-game home stand.
The Lancers (20-2) pounded out 23 hits between the two games with five coming from Nicole Shoemaker who went 5-for-7 in the doubleheader with a double, three RBIs and two runs scored. Karina Slauenwhite went 3-for-6 with four RBIs including a two-run shot against North Dakota.
“We swung the bats well today,” said CBU head coach Mike Smith. “I sat Nicole down before the game started and said we are going to try you at the three spot today with Nikki (Lowe) being out. She rose to the challenge and did a great job filling that gap. Karina also came up big. Good teams respond to adversity and we responded today after getting beat yesterday and losing Nikki for a few games.”
Amy Thomas (11-1) and Melanie Ahumada (9-1) each picked up a win in a complete game performance. Thomas notched the win over Lee allowing just three hits and fanning eight in the shutout. Ahumada was hit early, but slammed the door shut from the second inning on. She struck out four and allowed just five hits.
In the opener against Lee, Shoemaker got the ball rolling when she drove in Chantal Millard, who tripled, to give CBU a 1-0 lead in the third. The Lancers made it 2-0 when Sara Goforth singled to left to bring home Briana Corral.
California Baptist put the game away in the fifth scoring three runs. After Shoemaker and Erin Moore ripped two straight singles, Slauenwhite cleared the bases with a two-run double. Slauenwhite then came around to score on a Lee error.
“We are a good two-strike hitting team, but that kind of scares me sometimes,” said Smith. “We need to stop being as passive as we are and start being more aggressive at the plate. Good teams will bury you if you don't get aggressive.”
In the nightcap, Shoemaker went a perfect 4-for-4 with a pair of RBIs. After the Fighting Sioux hung a couple of runs in the top of the first, the Lancers answered with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Millard scored on a Shoemaker single before Slauenwhite ripped a two-run home run over the center field wall.
CBU scored single runs in the second, fifth and sixth innings to continue to pull away from North Dakota.
The Lancers will now take its first road trip, since Feb. 1-2, when it goes to Biola, Saturday, for a GSAC doubleheader at noon.
