California Baptist University
Chico State
Lancers Score Three
3/31/2012 12:55:00 AM | Softball
The Lancers pulled out a 5-3 victory against No. 11 Chico State in the morning game and then scored two close wins against Cal State Stanislaus (7-6 in eight innings) and Cal State San Bernardino (5-4) in the late games.
"I thought we played great in the morning, but lost focus a little in the last two games," said Head Coach Bill Baber. "We were fortunate to come out of today with three wins."
The Lancers went ahead of CSUC 4-0 early in the first game of the day scoring two runs in both the first and third innings.
CBU scored on a bases loaded hit-by-pitch and a groundout in the first, and then April Vasquez drove in a pair with a double in the third inning.
Vasquez's double was one of just four hits the Lancers used to score five runs.
CSUC made it close with three runs in the fifth inning, but Mara Rodriguez added some insurance with a solo blast in the bottom of the sixth and Emma Holden slammed the door shut in the seventh, stranding runners on first and second.
Holden went the distance against the wildcats, striking out 11 batters in seven innings to move to 15-3 on the season. She stranded nine wildcat runners on base in the game.
With little time in between contests, CBU jumped right into a dogfight with tournament host Cal State Stanislaus.
The Warriors took an early 2-0 lead, holding the Lancers scoreless for the first five innings.
CBU finally broke through when Marshean August singled in a pair of runs and Rodriguez hit her second home run of the day, a three-run shot to left field.
With Tory Ferreira settling in, CBU looked to be cruising to a 6-2 win until CSUS struck back with four runs on three hits and a Lancer error in the bottom of the seventh.
Tina Galinato put the Lancers back up with a two-run double in the top of the eighth and the Lancer defense came through with the game saving play when August gunned down a runner at the plate from centerfield in the bottom of the eighth, helping to give the Lancers the win.
"That game showed how defense can win you a game and also lose you a game," said Baber. "Our defensive errors nearly cost us, but in the end a beautiful play from Marshean and Lindsay Henry at the plate saved us."
Somehow not done with the drama, the lead changed hands three times in the Lancers' final game of the day.
CSUSB came back from a 3-1 deficit with three runs in the fifth, but April Vasquez had another big hit left in her, scoring two with a single up the middle in the bottom half of the inning to put CBU up for good at 5-4.
Ferreira took the win in both of the late games, moving to 16-2. She entered the game against the Coyotes in relief, throwing the final three innings.
"We're glad we came away with these wins, but we can't relax now because we have two big games coming up tomorrow," said Baber.
The Lancers face Dominican in what will be a make-up PacWest contest in the morning and then take on No. 9 Cal State Dominguez Hills.
The Lancers are now 31-5 on the season.
