OK CORRAL

Wednesday, March 30

Riverside

5:00 PM

California Baptist University

Columbia College (Mo.)

3/31/2011 5:01:00 AM | Softball

RIVEDRSIDE, Calif. --- Briana Corral was better than just okay Wednesday night, willing No. 1 California Baptist University to a 4-3, extra-innings win against No. 12 Columbia (Mo.).

Corral had three doubles, two RBI and one run scored in the opener, driving in the game winning run in the eighth inning. CBU would complete the doubleheader sweep with a 10-2, five-inning victory in the nightcap.

“It was a good win,” said Head Coach Mike Smith. “There are still some adjustments we need to be making so they are not that close in the future, but we came out of it with two victories.”

Valerie Teter and Emma Holden were locked in a pitchers duel in Wednesday's opener, when Corral smacked a double to left-center and Sloan McHann drove her in with a two-bagger to break the scoreless tie.

The Cougars answered, however, when Kacey Rehagen hit a bases-loaded double to put Columbia up 3-1.

Corral's hot day was far from over, though, and the senior second baseman pulled CBU to within one with an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth. After Marshean August replaced Corral on the bases at second, it was again McHann who followed Corral's lead, driving in the game-tying run with a two-out single to right-center.

Courtney McGee would replace Holden to start the seventh, allowing just one hit and no runs as the game went to extra innings. With no outs in the bottom of the eighth, CBU re-created its first run of the game, getting Tina Galinato on with a bunt single and Corral driving a ball to right-center to score her.

“Tina's bunt was huge and then Briana really came through for us today,” said Smith. “It was one of her better hitting nights of the season and we needed that. She came through in the clutch.”

With Teter out of the circle for Columbia, the Lancer bats came alive in the nightcap, scoring 10 runs on 12 hits.

Galinato and Caty Reeves each hit home runs in the game. Galinato's three-run shot in the third inning gave CBU a comfortable 8-0 lead. McHann also had a pair of RBI in the late game.

“We really did not pitch well today,” said Smith. “Tory (Ferriera) was dominating early, but gave up a couple of runs and Emma seemed to be forcing things in the opener. That has not been typical of our staff this year and with these tough conference games coming up we have to buckle down.”

The five total runs given up by the Lancers was the most given up by CBU in any doubleheader this season. The Lancers' pitching staff entered play Wednesday leading the NAIA with a 0.49 ERA.

Ferreira got the win in the late game moving to 12-0 on the year and Holden took a no-decision in the opener. McGee picked up her sixth win of the year.

“Courtney did what we asked of her and kept the game close so we could come back and win,” said Smith. “Our girls have been resilient at times in close games, but sometimes it feels like we are winning games on just talent, while not doing the little things. We can't continue to do that and expect to be successful.”

CBU moves to 41-1 on the season, while Columbia falls to 14-9. The Lancers face a tough conference schedule coming up, traveling to No. 21 Biola Friday and then hosting Vanguard on Saturday. In possibly CBU's biggest matchup of the season No. 3 Concordia comes to town on Tuesday.