California Baptist University
Vanguard University (Calif.)
FIVE IN A ROW
4/22/2008 7:00:00 AM | Softball
RIVERSIDE, Calif. ? The drive for a fifth straight Golden State Athletic Conference title is now complete after California Baptist swept a doubleheader from Vanguard, winning both games by identical scores of 9-1.
The Lancers (49-5, 21-1) become only the second team to have ever won five GSAC titles and are the first to win five in a row. Vanguard is the only other school that has won five GSAC titles, the last coming in 1999 when it was known as Southern California College.
“These girls have really worked hard, and we went through some adversity in the fall and spring. They really deserve this championship,” said CBU head coach Mike Smith. “This team is a lot different than the ones from years past. We kind of lived and died by the long ball over the last two or three years. We haven't been the team that would bury teams this year. The last two years we would mercy rule a lot of teams. This team just stays with it. Our pitchers just keep us in games, and our hitters come up with big hits all the way through the lineup.”
California Baptist had no problem putting runs up on the board, scoring 18 runs on 21 hits while the pitching staff allowed just two runs and struck out nine in 11 innings of combined work.
Briana Corral hit her first collegiate home run in the opener while going 2-for-4 with four RBIs and a run scored.
“It was nice to see Briana have a great day and swing the bat well,” said Smith. “We told her yesterday that she was going to be in the lineup today and have a chance to come up with some big hits for us. She had a great game against (Jennifer) Olvera at their place last time and came up big time today.”
Chantal Millard was a perfect 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored while Erin Moore was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored.
“Chantal needed a big game,” said Smith. “She's been up and down a little bit, but it was a good day for her.”
In the opener, California Baptist held a 3-0 lead heading into the fourth after scoring one in the first and two in the third. The Lancers scored three runs in the fourth, including a two-run shot by Corral over the left centerfield wall. Vanguard didn't get on the board until the fifth, making it a 6-1 game. The Lancers scored three more in the sixth to secure the run-rule victory.
Amy Thomas (26-3), who threw a perfect game for the first 4.1 innings, picked up the win going the complete six innings, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out five.
Moore led the way in the nightcap, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Millard and Karina Slauenwhite also drove in a pair of runs. Millard went 1-for-3, and Slauenwhite drove both of her runs on a pinch-hit single in the fifth.
The Lancers opened the game with two in the bottom of the first after Vanguard took a 1-0 lead in the top half of the inning. The Lancers then unloaded in the fifth, scoring seven runs to grab their second win of the day.
Melanie Ahumada (23-2) went the complete five innings, allowing just one run on seven hits while striking out four.
The Lancers now have just one more regular-season doubleheader left when it hosts Concordia, Saturday at noon. With two wins over Concordia, California Baptist can set a GSAC record for winning percentage in conference and set a school record for most conference wins in a season. The best previous winning percentage was .950 set by Southern California College back in 1999 when it went 19-1.
