California Baptist University
Cal State Dominguez Hills
Cardiac Lancers
4/6/2013 11:31:00 PM | Softball
TURLOCK, Calif. --- California Baptist University kept its run of dangerously close wins going at the Tournament of Champions Saturday, closing play with a pair of tight victories.
The Lancers opened with a 2-1 walk-off win in extra innings against Cal State Dominguez Hills and then closed the weekend by coming from behind to defeat Cal State East Bay 5-1. It wouldn't be until late that CBU broke open a one-run ballgame against the Pioneers.
CBU went 5-0 on the weekend, winning all five games by a combined score of 12-2.
In the opener the Lancers took a 1-1 tie into the eighth and after placing a runner on second Jordan Mowatt stepped to the plate and laid a bunt down the left side on the first pitch she saw. Racing down the first base line she beat the play out to first and drew a throwing error from the Toro's third baseman, allowing Vasquez to score from second and end the game.
Jessica Avila got the win in the opener, giving up one earned run on eight hits. She struck out six to move to 16-9 on the season.
The Lancers scored first in the game on a solo-shot from Rachel Meyer in the first inning. It was Meyer's team leading 13th homer of the year.
CSUDH evened the ballgame in the fourth, getting a bases loaded single. Avila worked her way out of the jam, however, stranding three Toros to end the threat.
The drama continued in the late game as CBU had yet another one-run fight for much of the ballgame.
The Lancers fell behind 1-0 early, but Kailey Willingham drove in a pair with a single in the fourth, to grab the lead for CBU.
The Lancers got stellar defensive plays down the stretch to preserve the one-run lead, as Marshean August threw out a runner at home to end the fourth and April Vasquez started a double-play to end the Pioneers' threat in the fifth.
Belinda Renne gave up just one run through seven innings of work, moving to 7-3 on the year.
CBU tacked on three runs in the top of the seventh to give Renne some breathing room, getting RBI from Mowatt, August and Mara Rodriguez.
The two wins move the Lancers to 24-16 on the season.
