SHUTOUT CITY

Tuesday, March 24

Costa Mesa, CA

2 p.m.

California Baptist University

Vanguard University (Calif.)

3/24/2009 7:00:00 AM | Softball

COSTA MESA, Calif. ? California Baptist University rung in the newly crowned No. 1 spot with a pair of shutouts, 2-0 and 6-0, over Vanguard.

Freshman Tory Ferreira (11-0) and junior Melanie Ahumada (11-2) each tossed a complete game shutout for the Lancers (32-2, 10-2, GSAC). Ferreira allowed just three hits, striking out two and walking one in seven innings of work before Ahumada struck out six and allowed just three hits as well in seven innings.

Nicole Shoemaker and Megan Silva each drove in a run while going 1-for-3 in the opener while Nikki Lowe went 2-for-3 with a run scored. GSAC Player of the Week Ashley Boyd led the way in the nightcap, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Kendall Gorham also had a two-run, pinch-hit home run in the second game.

Lowe scored the first run of the day on a Shoemaker triple to right center to give CBU a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Each team was held scoreless for the next six innings until Sarah Hurlbut laced a single up the middle to score Silva, who tripled with two outs, to give the Lancers a 2-0 lead.

Patty Olvera also threw a complete game for the Lions (15-15, 3-8 GSAC), allowing two runs on seven hits and striking out six in the first game.

Boyd scored the first run of the nightcap when she scored on a squeeze bunt by Shoemaker. The Lancers added two more in the fifth when Boyd and Lowe both scored on a throwing error by the Lions' right fielder. Boyd led off the inning with a single and moved to third on two straight passed balls. Lowe then drew a walk and moved to second with a stolen base. Shoemaker drove a ball to right field that was caught and relayed to the infield, but was thrown off line and kicked off the catcher's glove allowing both Boyd and Lowe to score.

Tina Galinato put CBU 4-0 in the sixth when she scored on a triple to right center from Boyd and Gorham put the finishing touches on the night when she blasted her fourth-home run of the year to left center in the seventh.

The doubleheader sweep completes the first half of conference play and has CBU in a tie with Point Loma Nazarene, as both are 10-2 in the GSAC. The Lancers have the tiebreaker though after sweeping PLNU earlier this month.