LANCERS SPLIT

Tuesday, March 16

Irvine, CA

4 p.m.

California Baptist University

Concordia

3/17/2010 5:00:00 AM | Softball

IRVINE, Calif. --- All it took was one blast from the bat of Concordia's Alyssa Erickson to hand California Baptist University its first loss of the season on Tuesday afternoon.

The No. 1-ranked Lancers dropped the first game of their doubleheader with No. 11-ranked Concordia, 3-2, but rebounded in the nightcap winning 4-1.

In an intense battle between two highly ranked GSAC opponents the top-ranked Lancers looked poised to pull out a victory after scoring two runs in the top of the fourth, but it was not to be as Erickson sent a three-run shot over the left field wall in the bottom half of the inning.

Eagles' pitcher Rachel Reekstin had allowed only one hit leading into the fourth inning when Nicole Shoemaker led off with a single. Shoemaker was replaced by pinch-runner Amanda Collins, who would eventually score on a sacrifice fly to center. Briana Corral then singled up the middle to drive in pinch-runner Andie Banuelos for the Lancers' second and final run.

In the bottom half of the fourth Lancer pitcher Tory Ferreira appeared ready to work her way out of another jam, but Erickson took her deep on the first pitch she saw for the fated three-run homer. Ferreira had already fought through a no outs, bases loaded situation in the third with the help of a comebacker that resulted in a double play.

It was Ferreira's first loss of her career bringing her to 33-1.

“We just gave up too many leadoff base hits today,” said Head Coach Mike Smith. “Tory worked her way out of trouble a couple times, but just couldn't do it in the fourth. We also had more chances to drive in runs, but didn't get the key hits we needed. I told them if we don't execute we can't win and that's what happened.”

The Lancers executed better at the plate in the nightcap.

Kendall Gorham drove in runs in the first and third innings with a single and home run, and two doubles in the fourth gave the Lancers the four runs they needed.

A day after being named GSAC Pitcher of the Week, Melanie Ahumada had to battle her way to victory, giving up seven hits, but only one run.

The Eagles threatened in the fourth when Lizette Fernandez led off the inning with a double and pinch-runner Bryanna Simpson was then driven in by Shannon Walton's single to right center. Ahumada was helped out of the inning by left-fielder Sarah Hurlbut, who threw out a runner at third, as well as a double play by right-fielder Tina Galinato, who caught a line drive and threw out CU's Samantha Perez at first.

“Mel pitched just good enough to win,” said Smith. “She didn't have her best stuff, but she worked her way through trouble. The defense did a great job behind her as well, and that saved us.”

With the split, the Lancers moved to 30-1 overall, 9-1 GSAC. The Eagles are 20-8, 5-3.

“I told them before the season started that no one goes undefeated in this game,” said Smith. “You just shake it off and go out and win the next one, and that's what they did. The pressure of trying to keep an undefeated season going is off now. All we have to do is worry about winning our next game.”