California Baptist University
Concordia
LANCERS SET NEW GSAC MARK
4/26/2008 7:00:00 AM | Softball
RIVERSIDE, Calif. ? Just a few days after claiming the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) title for the fifth year in a row, California Baptist set a new mark for conference winning percentage with a doubleheader sweep over Concordia, 6-0 and 7-2.
The Lancers (51-5, 23-1) finish the conference season with a .953 winning percentage besting Southern California College's (now Vanguard) mark of .950 set back in 1999 when it went 19-1. This is the fourth straight 50 win season for California Baptist and also sets a single-season mark for most regular season wins in school history.
“This team is so resilient,” said CBU head coach Mike Smith. “This team just flips the switch and plays. I told the girls before the first game was over that I understand that we have won the conference already, but these games still mean something for national seeding. These games are important and it's a pride thing so you want to go to post season winning games.”
The Lancers took advantage of three Concordia errors in the opener to score their 19th shutout of the year. Amy Thomas (27-3) scattered four hits in seven innings of work.
Karina Slauenwhite and Kelly Maconachy each went 2-for-3 at the plate, while Sara Goforth went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
The Lancers broke the scoreless tie scoring three in the bottom of the third. After Maconachy and Goforth ripped back-to-back singles to lead off the inning, Nikki Lowe reached on a fielder's choice to score Goforth from third. Maconachy then scored after Lowe drew a rundown between first and second. Nicole Shoemaker made it 3-0 when she sacrificed home Moore from third.
Courtney Weber put the Lancers up 4-0 in the fourth when she scored on a Concordia error. CBU put the finishing touches on in the sixth when Lowe scored on another Eagles' error. Moore scored the second run of the inning when she scored from third just before Jessica Foerster was thrown out at second on an attempted steal.
In the nightcap, Concordia quickly jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first with a pair of base hits and increased its lead to 2-0 in the third on a solo shot to right by Carly Smith.
CBU didn't come to life until the fourth inning when it scored two runs to tie the game at two. After Shoemaker and Caty Reeves reached base with a walk and a single, Foerster ripped a one-out double down the right field line that scored both runners.
The Lancers broke the tie in the fifth with four runs and added another insurance run in the sixth. Goforth led off the fifth with a single and then scored on a single up the middle by Moore. Shoemaker then ripped a double to right center that scored Lowe before Reeves blasted a two-out double to right that scored both Moore and Shoemaker.
Maconachy scored the final run in the sixth on a ground out by Millard.
Reeves, who had not started in over a month, finished 3-for-3 with a two-RBI double and a run scored.
“She's been swinging the bat well in practice and she had been struggling lately,” said Smith. “She just said that wasn't her and I told her she would get the chance again and she got her opportunity today. She swung the bat well and did a great job for us and that proves well for us heading into post season play.”
Melanie Ahumada (24-2) went the complete seven innings, allowing just two runs on five hits while fanning six batters.
The Lancers will now get set to host the NAIA Region II Tournament, May 6-8, at John C. Funk Stadium.
