Saturday, April 17
Riverside
2 p.m.
California Baptist University
7
vs
6
Concordia
CALM UNDER FIRE
4/18/2010 1:04:00 AM | Softball
RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- As the mood in the stands at John C Funk Stadium fluctuated from nervous, to hopeful, to elated; the mood in the dugout and on the field for No. 1 California Baptist University never seemed to waiver until the final out of Saturday's sweep over No. 8 Concordia.
As Kendall Gorham caught the throw at first from third baseman Sarah Strong for the final out of CBU's comeback victory, players rushed to the first baseline to congratulate each other and revel in the noise of a boisterous and most likely relieved crowd. It wasn't until that moment that it truly became evident the Lancers even felt the enormous pressure of such a tightly contested doubleheader. CBU swept the Eagles, 6-2 and 7-6, and avenged their only loss of the year, taking the season series between the two teams 3-1.
“This team just never believes they are going to lose,” said Head Coach Mike Smith. “We got down today, but their demeanor did not change. They always believe in each other and their own ability even when they are behind. Our fans were awesome as well. It was an extremely exciting atmosphere today.”
In each game Emma Holden entered in relief and held the Eagles to two hits and only one unearned run, while the Lancer bats did the rest. CBU scored a combined 13 runs on 22 hits, many of which came at just the right time for the defending national champs.
The nightcap had the majority of the drama as CBU found themselves down 5-2 after CUI scored four runs in the fourth. Holden replaced starter Melanie Ahumada in the inning and would pitch the final 3.1 innings, giving up only one hit and one unearned run.
Two runs in the bottom of the fifth brought the Lancers within one, but a throwing error by Sarah Hurlbut allowed the Eagles to add on a run putting them up 6-4.
After two outs in the bottom of the sixth Sloan McHann came to the plate and drove a pitch that just cleared the right field wall.
“People might not realize how big that home run by McHann was,” said Smith. “It really gave us life again after those two quick outs and energized the team in the dugout.”
Strong followed McHann's homer with a double to left and then the Eagles elected to intentionally walk Ashley Boyd to get to Briana Corral. A wild pitch on relief pitcher Rachel Reekstin advanced the runners and Corral proceeded to prove that there are no weak spots in the top-ranked Lancers' lineup, singling in the game-tying and eventual winning runs. Corral was a combined 4-for-8 on the day with four RBI.
The early game on Saturday also saw the CUI batters get to Lancer pitching early as the Eagles chased Tory Ferreira after the second inning. Holden replaced Ferreira after she gave up two runs on four hits.
Holden was just as brilliant in the first game giving up no runs on one hit in her five innings of work. Holden had the Eagles off balance in seemingly every at bat striking out seven. She outdueled Reekstin, who pitched six innings and gave up ten hits and six runs for the loss. Holden got both wins for CBU bringing her record to 15-0 while Reekstin took the Eagles' two losses falling to 9-8.
Game one was tight until Boyd hit a three-run shot in the sixth to give the Lancers a 6-2 lead. Boyd's home run was the first given up by Reekstin all year. CBU had two homers off of Eagle starter Jennifer Simons in the nightcap, which were also the first she had given up all year. It is the second doubleheader in a row in which the Lancers have been the first to go deep off of an opposing pitcher. Point Loma Nazarene's Tyler Lent had not given up a homer all season until she faced CBU last Tuesday.
The Lancers' three long balls on the day give them 90 as a team this year, the second highest total ever in NAIA history. They are six behind the record of 96 set last year by Oklahoma City.
CBU improves to 51-1 overall, 21-1 GSAC and CUI falls to 37-15, 12-8. The Lancers host Cal State San Marcos on Tuesday for the final regular-season home game of the year.
As Kendall Gorham caught the throw at first from third baseman Sarah Strong for the final out of CBU's comeback victory, players rushed to the first baseline to congratulate each other and revel in the noise of a boisterous and most likely relieved crowd. It wasn't until that moment that it truly became evident the Lancers even felt the enormous pressure of such a tightly contested doubleheader. CBU swept the Eagles, 6-2 and 7-6, and avenged their only loss of the year, taking the season series between the two teams 3-1.
“This team just never believes they are going to lose,” said Head Coach Mike Smith. “We got down today, but their demeanor did not change. They always believe in each other and their own ability even when they are behind. Our fans were awesome as well. It was an extremely exciting atmosphere today.”
In each game Emma Holden entered in relief and held the Eagles to two hits and only one unearned run, while the Lancer bats did the rest. CBU scored a combined 13 runs on 22 hits, many of which came at just the right time for the defending national champs.
The nightcap had the majority of the drama as CBU found themselves down 5-2 after CUI scored four runs in the fourth. Holden replaced starter Melanie Ahumada in the inning and would pitch the final 3.1 innings, giving up only one hit and one unearned run.
Two runs in the bottom of the fifth brought the Lancers within one, but a throwing error by Sarah Hurlbut allowed the Eagles to add on a run putting them up 6-4.
After two outs in the bottom of the sixth Sloan McHann came to the plate and drove a pitch that just cleared the right field wall.
“People might not realize how big that home run by McHann was,” said Smith. “It really gave us life again after those two quick outs and energized the team in the dugout.”
Strong followed McHann's homer with a double to left and then the Eagles elected to intentionally walk Ashley Boyd to get to Briana Corral. A wild pitch on relief pitcher Rachel Reekstin advanced the runners and Corral proceeded to prove that there are no weak spots in the top-ranked Lancers' lineup, singling in the game-tying and eventual winning runs. Corral was a combined 4-for-8 on the day with four RBI.
The early game on Saturday also saw the CUI batters get to Lancer pitching early as the Eagles chased Tory Ferreira after the second inning. Holden replaced Ferreira after she gave up two runs on four hits.
Holden was just as brilliant in the first game giving up no runs on one hit in her five innings of work. Holden had the Eagles off balance in seemingly every at bat striking out seven. She outdueled Reekstin, who pitched six innings and gave up ten hits and six runs for the loss. Holden got both wins for CBU bringing her record to 15-0 while Reekstin took the Eagles' two losses falling to 9-8.
Game one was tight until Boyd hit a three-run shot in the sixth to give the Lancers a 6-2 lead. Boyd's home run was the first given up by Reekstin all year. CBU had two homers off of Eagle starter Jennifer Simons in the nightcap, which were also the first she had given up all year. It is the second doubleheader in a row in which the Lancers have been the first to go deep off of an opposing pitcher. Point Loma Nazarene's Tyler Lent had not given up a homer all season until she faced CBU last Tuesday.
The Lancers' three long balls on the day give them 90 as a team this year, the second highest total ever in NAIA history. They are six behind the record of 96 set last year by Oklahoma City.
CBU improves to 51-1 overall, 21-1 GSAC and CUI falls to 37-15, 12-8. The Lancers host Cal State San Marcos on Tuesday for the final regular-season home game of the year.
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