California Baptist University
Azusa Pacific
In The Clutch
4/13/2013 4:18:00 AM | Softball
AZUSA, Calif. --- California Baptist University showed its clutch play as of late was more than just a fad, as the Lancers scored two nail-biting victories over Azusa Pacific Friday night.
After going 5-0 at the Tournament of Champions last weekend, CBU got a comeback 3-1 win in extra innings and then held on for a 2-1 win late over the Cougars on the road Friday.
“This team has learned to just hang in there and even when things don't go our way, they have confidence someone is going to come through and pick them up,” said CBU Head Coach Bill Baber. “That's what happened today. Our pitchers had to work out of some jams, we committed a few errors, but they hung in there and came through when it counted.”
The pair of wins moves CBU to 26-16 overall and evens the team's conference mark at 13-13. APU falls to 20-17, 9-11.
CBU came as close as it could to defeat in the opener, giving up a run in the sixth after both pitchers had held the offenses scoreless to that point.
Sitting three outs from defeat, Savannah Miller tripled to lead off the seventh and then was driven in on a sacrifice fly by April Vasquez to even the contest. Jessica Avila would strand an APU runner on third in the bottom half of the frame to force extra innings.
In the eighth the Lancers got two quick outs before Marshean August got on with a bunt single. August would again use her speed to score from first on a clutch RBI double from Rachel Meyer, giving the Lancers their first lead of the day.
The clutch hits kept coming for CBU as Sloan McHann singled up the middle to drive in pinch runner Taylor Castro and give the Lancers their 3-1 advantage.
“We just got key hit after key hit late in that game,” said Baber. “Savannah got us going and then April showed great poise even with two strikes on her to drive her in. She stayed focused and did her job, that's the difference for this team right now. That just kept going in the eighth. Nobody panicked even when we had two outs.”
Avila came back out and worked another brilliant inning in the bottom of the eighth, stranding a Cougar on first to end the game.
Avila tossed eight innings, scattering nine hits to give up just one earned run.
The Lancers had just six hits off of APU starter Rita Kim, four of which coming in the final two innings. Meyer was 2 for 3 at the plate in the game.
Meyer and McHann would get the Lancers going in the late game, with McHann tripling to center to drive in Meyer in the first. APU evened the contest in the bottom half of the inning, though, and another tight ballgame was on.
McHann struck again in the fifth, putting CBU up 2-1 with a single for her third RBI of the day.
The Lancers threatened in the top of the seventh, putting runners on first and third with one out, but CBU couldn't push an insurance run across, ending the inning with a pop-up and groundout to set the stage for another dramatic finale.
This time it was Belinda Renne's turn to leave the Cougars stranded. Renne finished off the complete game win by leaving APU runners on first and second, getting a pop-up on a bunt attempt and then a fly out to center to end the game.
Renne gave up five hits and one earned run in the win to move to 8-3 on the year. Avila is now 17-9 as CBU pitching continued its dominant run. The Lancers' staff has allowed just four runs in its last seven games.
“Our pitching has really grown up and done a great job for us lately,” said Baber. “They're trusting their defense and even when they don't have their best stuff, they are making the right pitches.”
McHann and Vasquez were each 2 for 3 at the plate and August went 2 for 4 as CBU had nine hits off APU pitching in the late game.
The Lancers and Cougars will be back at it tomorrow as CBU hosts APU for another doubleheader.
