California Baptist University
Azusa Pacific University (Calif.)
IT'S ALL CHALK
4/29/2009 12:30:00 AM | Softball
RIVERSIDE, Calif. ? Tory Ferreira and Melanie Ahumada combined to toss a two-hit, complete-game shutout for California Baptist University in a 3-0 win over Azusa Pacific in the semifinals of the Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament.
The No. 1-ranked Lancers (51-4) now take a 1-0 lead in the best 2-of-3 series and can move into the GSAC Tournament Championship with a win over APU, Wednesday, at noon. If the Cougars (27-21) can pull off the win then there will be a third and deciding game played at 2 p.m.
The newly crowned GSAC Pitcher of the Year allowed just two hits and struck out two in five innings of work before handing it over to Ahumada who threw the final two innings and didn't allow a hit. Ferreira moved to 19-0 on the year while Ahumada recorded her third save of the year.
“Tory got in a little trouble with walks, but otherwise threw a typical Tory type game,” said CBU head coach Mike Smith. “Walks can hurt you, and we have the luxury of being able to go to either one of our pitchers at anytime. Mel came in and shut the door. We just need to pitch ahead more. If we can do that, we can dominate teams, but if we get behind things don't always go your way.”
Tina Galinato made every bit of her one at-bat, driving in two runs with a single up the middle. After CBU took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a Nikki Lowe sac-fly that scored Ashley Boyd, Galinato pinch hit for Briana Corral and delivered with two outs to drive in Nicole Shoemaker and Kendal Gorham. That single gave CBU a 3-0 lead in the fourth and that was all the Lancers needed.
“Tina's at-bat was huge for us,” said Smith. “That's been her role for us in the second half of the season as a pinch hitter and has come up big. She's really came through when we needed her this year. We were a little over aggressive at the plate and we chased some pitches we normally don't swing at. This is one of those that we will just take the win as it comes. We just need to get that first one tomorrow and get ready for the championships.”
CBU threatened with two runners in scoring position in the sixth, but left both stranded. Gorham was the only Lancer with multiple hits, going 2-for-3 at the plate with a run scored while Boyd went 1-for-3 and Shoemaker went 1-for-2 with each scoring a run.
