WAKE UP CALL

Tuesday, March 1

Riverside

5:00 PM

California Baptist University

Cal State San Marcos

3/2/2011 7:38:00 AM | Softball

RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- For the third straight year No. 1 California Baptist University split a doubleheader with No. 8 Cal State San Marcos, dropping the opener of the two-game set at home Tuesday night.

CBU lost the opener 1-0 in 10 innings, before breaking through in the nightcap for a 7-0 win.

“Nobody wanted to step up for us in the first game,” said Head Coach Mike Smith. “Emma (Holden) went out and pitched a brilliant ballgame and our offense just didn't back her up. You just have to tip your caps to them and move on. I think the girls were a little frustrated in the second game.”

Holden pitched all 10 innings in the opener, striking out a career-high 17 batters. She did not give up a hit until the eighth inning and the one run scored by the Cougars was unearned.

Brenna Sandberg picked up the win in the 1-0 game, also pitching all 10 innings. Sandberg struck out 11 and gave up just three hits for her ninth win of the season.

With the game moving to the 10th inning, the international tie break rule of beginning with a runner on second was instituted. The Cougars' Alex Miller was advanced from second on a sacrifice bunt by HeavinLee Rodriguez. Alex Houle followed with a walk to give CSUSM runners on the corners.

A pop out drew the Lancers to within one out of getting through the inning. With Kimi Villapondo down to her last strike, Houle bolted for second and on the throw by Nicole Shoemaker, Miller scored from third to give the Cougars the 1-0 lead.

Tina Galinato was placed on second by CBU in the bottom half of the tenth, but she was unable to advance as Sandberg struck out the side to end the ballgame.

“Brenna pitched a heck of a game and you have to give her credit,” said Smith. “To hold our offense to just three hits shows what kind of a pitcher she is. I was glad to see we got to her in the second game.”

Sandberg, who has started 13 of the Cougars' 15 games this season, once again took the circle in the late game, but this time the Lancers figured showed that they can only be fooled once.

After ending the first game by striking out, Lindsey Henry opened the late game with a solo homer on just the second pitch of the game.

Tory Ferreira made sure that the early lead would hold up, throwing another brilliant game for the Lancers with seven innings pitched, just two hits allowed and six strikeouts. Ferreira did not walk a single batter.

“Tory was amazing as well tonight,” said Smith. “It is really tough on teams to go from Emma throwing in the mid 60's to Tory throwing a lot of off speed stuff. Both of our pitchers did their jobs tonight.”

The Lancers scored runs in four of six innings. Mara Rodriguez drove in four of those runs on a pair of two-run homers. She was 3-for-3 in the nightcap and has hit four home runs in CBU's last four contests.

With the split the Lancers move to 18-1 on the season and CSUSM moves to 11-4. The two teams have one more scheduled meeting this season, at the Cougars' tournament Saturday, March 12.