CHAMPIONSHIP CLASSIC

Thursday, May 5

Riverside

5:00 PM

California Baptist University

Azusa Pacific

5/6/2011 7:55:00 AM | Softball

RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- No. 1 California Baptist University won its third-straight GSAC Tournament Championship in dramatic fashion Thursday night, tying the game with three runs in the seventh inning and then scoring on a squeeze play in the tenth to defeat No. 8 Azusa Pacific.

CBU defeated the Cougars 7-0 in the opening game of the three-game series, getting the dramatic victory in the nightcap to avoid a third and final game Friday afternoon.

“They are a great team and we really had to work for this one,” said Head Coach Mike Smith. “With their pitching and hitting, that is going to be a team to be reckoned with at the National Tournament. For us to be able to come back and get this win is something special.”

Emma Holden picked up both wins for CBU, matching her career-high with 16 strikeouts in the opener and then coming in to pitch the final four innings of the comeback victory. Holden moves her record to 30-1 on the year.

“It was almost a blessing in disguise that she had to leave the other day's game early because it helped her be rested and ready for today,” said Smith, referring to Holden's outing against Vanguard in which she threw just two innings before leaving after getting called for six illegal pitches. “Emma was a warrior for us tonight and gave an all-time great performance.”

The Lancers trailed 2-0 early in the nightcap, when Brandi Andrews blasted a two-run homer to center field. The Cougars would tack on another run on the fifth and take that 3-0 advantage into the top of the seventh.

Batting first in the inning after losing the opening coin toss to be the visiting team on their home field, CBU sent pinch-hitter Caty Reeves to the plate for her first appearance of the night. Reeves led off the inning with a single up the middle and the rally was on.

After a strikeout and a walk, Mara Rodriguez drove the ball back up the middle to score pinch-runner Amanda Collins from second base, giving the Lancers their first run of the game. Lindsay Henry then came up to face APU ace Taryn Devich, but after battling to a 3-2 count she popped out to right field and CBU was down to its final out.

With the game on the line the Lancers had the program's all-time leading home run hitter Kendall Gorham at the plate and runners on first and second. Gorham wasted no time, driving the second pitch she saw to deep right center, doubling off the wall to score the game tying runs. Devich would get her team out of the inning, though, and the contest headed to extra frames.

With Holden and Devich battling back and forth it took some uncharacteristic small ball from the Lancers in the tenth inning to score the winning run.

Gorham drew a walk to open the tenth and CBU's fourth leading home run hitter Sloan McHann laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move her over to second base. A bloop single to right by Nicole Shoemaker advanced Gorham to third and brought up freshman April Vasquez.

Vasquez laid down the second perfect bunt of the inning, scoring Gorham on the squeeze play and sending John C Funk Stadium into a frenzy.

It was the only run the Lancers would need as Holden worked a one-two-three bottom of the tenth. As McHann flipped the ball to Briana Corral covering at first for the final out, the CBU players stormed the field to rejoice in the team's final championship as a member of the GSAC.

“When we tied the game up I knew we were going to win,” said Holden. “I always had faith in my teammates and when our offense got us back in the game there was no way I was going to let them score again. It feels amazing to get to celebrate this win.”

Holden threw a total of 11 innings on the day, striking out 22 batters, while walking just two and giving up three hits.

“What Courtney McGee did can't be overlooked either,” said Smith. “She came into a tough situation and did exactly what we asked of her. She just needed to keep it close and give us a chance to win and we did that. The plan all along was to put Emma into the game if we tied it or got the lead.”

McGee entered in the fifth inning, replacing starter Tory Ferreira after APU took a 3-0 lead. The freshman pitched a perfect 1.2 innings, using three strikeouts to help retire all five batters she faced.

The Lancers rode Holden's aforementioned 16 k's in the opener and used a six-run sixth inning to break open what had been a tight ballgame. GSAC Player of the Year Henry sparked the outburst with a line drive homer to left.

The Lancers now gear up for the NAIA National Tournament May 17-25. CBU takes a 59-3 record to Mobile, Ala. Azusa Pacific falls to 32-21 and will also likely be headed to Alabama.