THE MOORE THE MERRIER
RIVERSIDE, Calif. ? It was just Erin Moore's day as the sophomore went 5-for-6 with two home runs and five RBIs in a pair of wins over Biola (4-0, 4-2).
“Thank goodness for Erin today,” said CBU head coach Mike Smith. “Without her today we might be looking at a different game. When she has had off days her teammates have picked up the load, but she carried it all today.”
The first baseman from Poway, Calif., went 3-for-3 with a solo home run in the opener and went 2-for-3 with a three-run blast in the nightcap as the Lancers (42-4, 15-1 GSAC) continued to roll in conference play.
Amy Thomas (23-2) tossed a two-hit shutout while remaining undefeated in conference play at 8-0. Thomas fanned seven Biola hitters.
“Amy just gave up those hits in the first couple of innings and shut them out from there,” said Smith. “She's throwing well right now and is throwing with a lot of confidence.”
The Lancers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second on Moore's solo home run that cleared the fence on the tennis court just beyond the right field wall.
CBU made it 2-0 when Kelly Maconachy ripped a two-out triple to right center to score Briana Corral who singled in the previous at bat. California Baptist put the finishing touches on the game when Karina Slauenwhite hit a bases-loaded single up the middle that scored Nikki Lowe and Jessica Foerster.
In the nightcap, it was Moore's bat that lifted the Lancer offense again. After Moore gave the Lancers a 1-0 lead with a single that scored Sara Goforth, Moore launched a three-run bomb in the sixth that scored Chantal Millard and Lowe.
Biola began to mount a rally in the top of the seventh after three straight hits to lead off the sixth including a two-run home run by Krista Johnson. Thomas was then brought on in relief and struck out two of the next three batters to grab her fourth save of the year.
Melanie Ahumada (19-2) recorded the win and entered the sixth inning allowing only three hits and struck out four before giving up the two-run homer.
“Mel faltered a little right there at the end, but overall she dominated them (Biola) today,” said Smith. “I was trying to get her though that, but we really needed to secure the win and I did what I felt was the best thing to do in that situation. Mel threw so well and then just made a couple of bad pitches in the end.”
The Lancers will now host Azusa Pacific, Saturday, in a GSAC doubleheader starting at noon.
