California Baptist University
University of North Dakota
BOYD OH BOYD
3/18/2009 7:00:00 AM | Softball
RIVERSIDE, Calif. ? Ashley Boyd may need a new bat after the pounding she put on North Dakota, going 5-for-6 with seven RBIs, a pair of home runs, a double and five runs scored in a doubleheader sweep. Boyd went 1-for-2 in the opener with a pair of RBIs and a run scored to lead CBU to an 18-1 win before going 4-for-4 with five RBIs and four runs scored in a 9-3 win in the nightcap.
Emma Holden (5-0) tossed a no-hitter, striking out nine in the opener. She allowed one run and walked four. Already this year, in just 11 appearances, she has thrown a perfect game, a no-hitter and a combined no-hitter to start the year.
North Dakota took advantage of three walks and a hit batter to go up 1-0 in the top of the first, but the Lancers answered with seven in the bottom half of the inning. Boyd drew a lead off walk before Nikki Lowe drilled her seventh home run of the year to give the lead to CBU at 2-1. Nicole Shoemaker walked and Sarah Strong was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second for Nina Cabrales who singled home Shoemaker. Megan Silva then drew a walk to load the bases before Sarah Hurlbut was walked to bring home Strong. Cabrales put CBU up 5-1 when she scored on a wild pitch before Lowe drove home Silva and Hurlbut to take a 7-1 lead.
CBU added 11 more in the third to take an 18-1 lead and that was all the Lancers need to take the win.
Cabrales was 3-for-3 with two RBIs and three runs scored while Kendall Gorham went 2-for-3 with four RBIs and a run scored.
Just like the first game, the Fighting Sioux jumped out in front, scoring one in the top of the first in the nightcap. The Lancers answered in the bottom of the first when Boyd blasted her eighth home run of the year to tie it at 1-1. Boyd added two more in the second when she singled to drive home Erin Moore and Katie Miller. Lowe drove home Boyd with a double before she scored on a Strong single to put CBU up 5-1.
The Fighting Sioux got another run back in the fourth when Nicole Puerling lifted a solo home run to left center, making it 5-2. Boyd actually saved it from being 5-3 when she made a diving catch to record an out on the lead off batter just before Puerling's home run. Kristi Alcorn lifted a ball out to shallow left center field, but Boyd raced back and laid out to snag the ball.
Lowe answered in the bottom of the fourth with a single to left to score Boyd before Lowe scored on an error to give the Lancers a 7-2 lead. Boyd put CBU up 9-2 with her second home run of the game in the fifth. The Fighting Sioux scored another run in the seventh on a solo home run, but that was the only run they scored in that inning.
Lowe was also perfect at the plate going 3-for-3 with a pair of RBIs and two runs scored. Gorham (3-0) tossed the complete game, allowing three runs on eight hits while fanning three.
CBU will now hit the road for Arizona to play in the Tucson Invitational where it will play four games all on Friday, including a game against No. 5 Dickinson State.
