ALIVE AND WELL

Saturday, May 22

Decatur, AL

8:30 a.m.

California Baptist University

Holy Names University (Calif.)

5/22/2010 9:00:00 PM | Softball

DECATUR, Ala. --- It took No. 1 California Baptist University falling behind 3-0 to Holy Names University in order to shock the Lancer bats back to life, and alive they were, scoring 12 runs in the third inning on 11 hits. CBU won 13-5 in five innings.

The Lancers had three home runs in that third inning and four overall setting an NAIA Tournament record for most home runs in a game. Briana Corral had two of the Lancer shots, the second of which ended the game in the fifth, and Sarah Strong and Ashley Boyd had the two other. For Boyd it was her 37th career home run, tying her with Nikki Lowe for the CBU career record. Boyd this season has 21 homers and is tied with teammate Kendall Gorham for the school single-season record.

“That third inning was pretty impressive,” said Head Coach Mike Smith. “I told the girls we needed to just chip away at it one at-bat at a time and they just took off from there. It was great to see the offense pick it up like that.”

The Lancers fell behind early when starter Tory Ferreira had trouble getting the strike calls she wanted and walked four batters in her 1.2 innings pitched. Ferreira only gave up two hits to go along with the walks, but after two runs in the first and another in the second Emma Holden came in to replace Ferreira. Holden would also struggle somewhat with command issues, walking six in three innings pitched, giving up two runs. Holden however was able to work her way out of jams and limit the damage striking out eight and allowing only one hit.

“We are going to have to work on some of those command issues,” said Smith. “Tory wasn't getting the call on the inside pitch and so that threw her off her game and Emma had trouble with gripping the ball on a hot day like this. Those are things we can work out though. Emma got it together and had some big strikeouts and Tory is a great pitcher who knows she is going to get another chance.”

The real show was at the plate though. After getting seven runs on just six hits in the opener, CBU got 13 runs on 12 hits Saturday. With a three run deficit going into the bottom of the third Sloan McHann worked a leadoff walk and Strong followed with a towering two-run homer to left, driving in pinch-runner Amanda Collins ahead of her. Boyd followed with her solo home run immediately after to tie the game. The Lancers got a couple of outs before continuing their third inning tear, scoring nine runs with two outs. CBU got two RBI from McHann in the inning and one RBI a piece from Caty Reeves, Nina Cabrales and Sarah Hurlbut.

“When I hit it I knew it was gone,” said Strong referring to her third inning homer. “I was just happy to get us on the board and hopefully change the momentum.”

Holy Names tried to steal some of the momentum back and extend the game past the fifth inning scoring two runs in the fourth, but Corral put the Lancers back up by eight with a line-drive homer to left-field, ending the game in the fifth.

“It felt great to be able to end the game with a homer,” said Corral. “It was my first time hitting two in a game so that made it even more special. The whole team just kept battling and we got the win even though we were behind early. Strong's homer got us all fired up.”

It was the Lancers' second highest NAIA Tournament run total only behind a 14-run output in 2007. That 2007 team scored a tournament record 53 runs overall. In its first two game in this 2010 tournament CBU has 20 runs.

CBU is now 2-0 in tournament play, 60-2 overall. Holy Names is 0-2 so far in tournament play and 27-22 overall. It is CBU's third straight 60-win season.