California Baptist University
Grand View University
FRIDAY THE 13TH
2/27/2009 8:00:00 AM | Softball
RIVERSIDE, Calif. ? It must have seemed like a horror film for Grand View (Iowa) when they saw that Emma Holden was starting in the circle. The freshman pitcher for California Baptist University mowed down the opposing lineup, striking out a career-high 13 in the second of two 8-0 wins over the Vikings.
“Emma has done a great job for us so far,” said CBU head coach Mike Smith. “She's had the opportunity to make the most of each outing. She's gaining more confidence each time she's out there. As a freshman, she is still learning some things, but she battled right back through a couple of rough spots. I think she is going to be a huge asset in the conference season.”
Holden (3-0) followed up her perfect game just a week ago with a complete six-inning shutout for the Lancers (14-0) in which she allowed just three hits. Nine of her strikeouts came in the first three innings. It dropped her ERA to just 0.55 and takes her strikeout total 32, the most of any Lancer on the team.
CBU was held scoreless for the first three innings in the game, but woke up the bats in the fourth, scoring five runs.
Briana Corral produced the first run of the game when she singled to bring in Megan Silva. Ashley Boyd then ripped a two-run shot, her sixth home run of the year, to left field to put CBU up 3-0. Nikki Lowe then doubled in the next at bat before the bases were loaded with walks drawn by Sarah Strong and Kendall Gorham. Nina Cabrales then ripped a single to right field to score Lowe and Strong for the final two runs of the inning.
CBU added one more in the fifth on a sac fly by Lowe to score Caty Reeves before adding two more in the sixth. Strong singled and Karina Slauenwhite had a pinch hit walk to start off the inning before Allison Smith doubled to center to score Strong. Gorham, who came back in to run for Slauenwhite, then scored when Corral laced a ball down the third base line to score the second straight run rule of the day.
In the opener, eight of the Lancers' nine hits came from the middle of the lineup in. Strong went 2-for-3, Nicole Shoemaker went 3-for-3, Cabrales went 2-for-2 and Tina Galinato went 1-for-2 with three RBIs. The only other hit came from Lowe who hit her fifth home run of the year.
“The middle of the lineup jumped on the ball today,” said Smith. “That's what's great about this offense. When one or two of our hitters are struggling, the rest of the line up picks them up. That's a huge key in going for the sixth straight conference title.”
Lowe put CBU on the board in just the second at bat of the game when she hit a solo home run. Lowe drove it over the right center field wall to give the Lancers a 1-0 lead. Then in the second, Sarah Hurlbut reached base when she was hit by a pitch and then came around to score on a Boyd ground out.
CBU added two more in the third when Galinato lifted a sacrifice fly to center to score Shoemaker from third. Cabrales tagged at second and headed for third, but Grand View's Whitney Link couldn't handle the throw at the third and allowed Cabrales to score to put CBU up 4-0.
The Lancers put the game away in the fourth, scoring four more runs. Lowe scored the first run of the inning off a Strong single. Shoemaker and Cabrales loaded the bases with back-to-back singles before Galinato ripped a single up the middle, scoring both Strong and Shoemaker. Cabrales also scored on the play when Galinato drew the attention of a Viking infielder. As soon as the infielder turned her back to Cabrales at third, Cabrales raced home to give CBU the 8-0 lead.
Tory Ferreira (5-0) picked up the win, going the complete five innings. She allowed just three hits and fanned three.
“Tory has been a great addition to this staff,” said Smith. “All three of our freshmen along with Mel (Ahumada) compliment each other well. I'm really excited about the present and future of our pitching staff.”
It's the 11th time this season that CBU has invoked the mercy rule and the fourth straight this season. The Lancers recorded their 15th straight win at John C. Funk Stadium and have won 30 of their last 31 at home.
