California Baptist University
UC San Diego
Topping The Tritons
2/21/2012 1:19:00 AM | Softball
Monday the Lancers made a loud and clear statement that they will continue to be a force to be reckoned with, sweeping No. 1-ranked and defending D-II champions UC San Diego 5-0, 4-0.
Lancer pitching threw 14 scoreless innings and gave up a total of eight hits on the day, while the Lancer bats provided nine runs on 18 hits, three of which were home runs.
"This really shows the character of this team to come back after tough loss last Saturday and play like that against a defending national champ," said Head Coach Bill Baber. "The girls came out and played hard on all fronts; offensively, defensively and in the circle. They came ready to play."
Coming off her first loss of the season to Cal State San Marcos, Emma Holden scattered seven base runners throughout the game, giving up five hits and just two walks. She struck out eight batters and moved to 6-1 with the win.
Kendall Gorham got things going offensively for CBU, hitting a towering two-run home run to left field in the first inning.
"Kendall really set the tone with that first home run," said Baber. "That was their number one pitcher and the way she and Sloan (McHann) hit the ball told our team that we can hit this girl. Anytime you can jump out on someone that quick, it sets a great tone for your team."
Gorham went 3-for-4 in the opener, driving in four of the team's five runs. Sloan McHann was 4-for-4 in the game with one RBI and one run scored. McHann nearly missed a homer of her own when she ripped a ball just foul over the right field fence.
With two outs in the first inning, McHann ripped a single up the middle and Gorham followed with her homer that just cleared the left field wall. The two players also drove in runs in the third and Gorham added another in the fifth.
In the late game it was Mara Rodriguez who set the tone for CBU, crushing a solo home run to center field to put CBU up 1-0 in the first inning.
McHann put CBU up 2-0, singling in a run in the third and then Marshean August capped the scoring with a two-run blast to centerfield.
Tory Ferreira did the rest.
Ferreira allowed three hits and three walks in seven innings to pick up her sixth win in six decisions on the season.
"Our pitchers were phenomenal once again," said Baber. "Emma's mental toughness was evident with how she responded to a tough loss last time out. Through the last four years I've seen just how tough she has become and that showed tonight. Tory was almost unhittable as well. Except for one hit down the line, the other hits were just bloops that fell in. She had them off balance all game. Our pitching gives this team great confidence because they know when we get a lead, we're hard to come back on."
With the two wins the Lancers move to 12-1 on the season.
CBU faces off against No. 17 Hawaii Pacific on Saturday. The Sea Warriors are defending conference champions and also won the 2010 NCAA Division II National Championship. HPU was predicted to win the conference again this season, while CBU was picked third in the PacWest preseason poll.
"We are very excited about next Saturday," said Baber. "We know they are an extremely tough team and that they are the conference favorites. The girls are excited for the challenge and hopefully we have a great crowd and put on a great show."
