California Baptist University
Azusa Pacific
LANCERS BREAK OUT BROOMS
4/12/2008 7:00:00 AM | Softball
RIVERSIDE, Calif. ? California Baptist couldn't have won two more different games after it came from behind in the bottom of the eighth in the opener, winning 3-2, and then run ruled Azusa Pacific, 8-0, in five innings in the nightcap.
The Lancers' (44-4, 17-1 GSAC) lead off hitters, Sara Goforth and Chantal Millard, went 8-for-13 with five RBIs on the day to complete the sweep over the Cougars (19-22).
“We hadn't been coming out the intensity that we have had in games against say Point Loma and Vanguard,” said CBU head coach Mike Smith. “We got a little scare there in the first game, but got the clutch hits we needed and we started swinging the bats again in the second game.”
It took extra innings in the opener, but the Lancers' top half of the order came up clutch in the bottom of the eighth. After the Cougars took the lead, at 2-1, in the top of the inning, Millard attempted to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but hustled down to first to beat the throw putting runners on first and third after Goforth was placed on second to start the inning. Nikki Lowe then tried to lay down a squeeze bunt, but APU's Camille Hundley attempted to get Goforth at third who was running on the play. Goforth was able to beat the throw back to third as Lowe reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases with no outs.
Erin Moore then hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Goforth from third that tied the game at two. Nicole Shoemaker then hit a ground ball to second base and Millard was able to beat the throw at the plate as the Lancers grabbed the win.
“We stepped up and got the key hits we needed,” said Smith. “We actually played the game of softball in the last inning. We executed and did the little things. I told the girls at the beginning of the year that it's going to take the little things in games when we aren't playing our best and that's exactly what we did.”
Amy Thomas (24-2) tossed the complete eight innings allowing just two runs on six hits and struck out three. Erin Moore went 1-for-2 with a pair of RBIs.
“It was good that we played a game like that and that experience will help us as we get closer to the postseason,” said Smith. “It was actually a benefit to us, but as a coach you don't like games like that.”
The Lancers opened the game with a run in the bottom of the first when Goforth scored on a double to left center. The Cougars answered in the fourth to tie at 1-1. Both teams were held scoreless until the eighth.
In the nightcap, California Baptist opened the bottom of the first with four straight singles scoring Goforth and Millard to give CBU a 2-0 lead.
The Lancers added two more in the second on a pair of singles by Goforth and Millard and then unloaded in the third scoring four to take an 8-0 lead. That was also the Lancers needed as Melanie Ahumada (20-2) tossed a complete game, one-hit shutout and struck out three. Goforth and Millard each went 3-for-3.
“Mel tossed another great game for us,” said Smith. “We really needed a great game from her. I told the girls that we need to come out in the second game and prove that we are the No. 1 team in the country. We did that in the second game.”
The magic number is now three for California Baptist as six GSAC games remain for CBU and the Lancers hold a three-game lead over second place Point Loma Nazarene.
The Lancers will now travel to Hope International, Tuesday, for a 4 p.m. doubleheader.
