California Baptist University
Cal State San Bernardino
RUNNING AND GUNNING
2/11/2009 8:00:00 AM | Softball
RIVERSIDE, Calif. ? If the first four games are any signs of how good California Baptist University is after losing three All-American first team selections, then the Lancers haven't missed a beat.
The Lancers (4-0) swept a doubleheader from Cal State San Bernardino, 9-0 (5 inn.) and 3-2, taking their winning streak over the Coyotes (3-6) to 13 straight.
CBU hit .429 over the doubleheader and had four home runs in the opening contest while the Lancer's pitching staff threw a combined 12 innings, allowing just two runs on five hits and fanned 12 batters total.
In the opener, Melanie Ahumada tossed her second combined shutout, allowing just two hits in four innings of work. She also struck out four. Kendall Gorham threw the final inning, striking out two of the three batters she faced.
The Lancers jacked four home runs in the opener with Ashley Boyd, Sarah Strong and Sarah Hurlbut all hitting their first home runs of the season. Nikki Lowe also hit her second home run in as many games. Two Lancers were perfect at the plate with Boyd going 3-for-3, with an RBI and three runs scored, and Briana Corral going 2-for-2 with a run scored.
“Nikki really had a rough junior year last year and we told her just to keep it simple,” said CBU head coach Mike Smith. “We had her make a few adjustments and she has taken everything in great strides. She has taken the time to work on her swing in the cages and now I am starting to see a different Nikki.”
After a controversial collision in a run-down situation in the top of the first inning, Boyd channeled her energy into a lead off home run in the bottom half of the inning to put CBU out in front 1-0.
“That play really fueled the fire,” said Smith. “We thought the runner threw a forearm to the face of Nikki and the umpire saw something different. We rallied around each other and we took care of it by swinging the bats. We really went up there with some fire today.”
The Lancers unloaded in the second, scoring four runs. Hurlbut started the rally with a two-out homer to left field. Corral and Boyd followed that with consecutive singles before Lowe cleared the bases with a three-run home run to left field.
CBU also added three more in the fourth when Corral and Boyd notched singles to lead off the inning and then Ashley LaCombe, who ran for Corral, scored on a Coyote error. Strong then blasted a two-run shot to center field to give CBU a 4-0 lead.
In the nightcap, it was Corral who led the way for CBU in the ninth-spot, going 1-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. Corral was the only one who drove in a run in the second game.
The Lancers took the first lead of the game in the bottom of the second when Corral singled to left field to drive home Gorham. The Coyotes tied the game in the fourth, but CBU answered in the bottom half of the inning, with two runs of its own. After Hurlbut and Gorham reached on back-to-back singles, Reeves sacrificed the two over to put both in scoring position. Hurlbut put CBU up 2-1 when she scored on a wild pitch and then Corral drove home Gorham with a ground out.
Emma Holden recorded her first career win, throwing the first 4.1 innings. The freshman allowed just two runs on three hits and struck out five. Tory Ferreira slammed the door shut, tossing the final 2.2 innings. She earned her first career save and fanned three of the eight batters she faced.
“We needed a pressure situation to see how our freshmen would respond because they are unproven right now,” said Smith. “Emma did a great job and kept it low scoring and made just one bad pitch and then we gave the ball to Tory and she just shut San Bernardino's offense down.”
