California Baptist University
Hawaii Pacific
Bringing The Mann Power
2/21/2014 5:57:00 AM | Softball
RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- Krista Mann was just the man No. 9-ranked California Baptist University needed to complete a comeback attempt after finding itself in a bit of a hole in game two.
The freshman blasted two home runs in the nightcap to lift CBU over Hawaii Pacific, 10-7, securing the doubleheader sweep after the Lancers claimed the first game, 2-1.
"HPU is a good ball team," said head coach Bill Baber. "They always battle. For us to get two wins from them is huge. It's always tough to get four games on the same opponent, though. The Sea Warriors have a lot of fight in them, they don't quit."
CBU now sits 14-3 overall and 5-1 in the PacWest, while the Sea Warriors fall to 1-5 both on the season and in conference.
Mann led the Lancers with a 1.429 slugging percentage off her two homers and a double to account for three hits on the day. She plated two runs and added four RBI in her seven appearances at the plate.
Rachel Meyer also had a stellar performance at the plate, going 4-for-6 on the day with a double and her first long ball of the season.
The Lancers struck first in the opening inning of the day, scoring one run off two hits. Marshean August led off the inning with a free walk to first and scored as London Miller knocked a base hit to center field.
HPU responded in the top of the third, evening the game at 1-1 off one hit and one error, but CBU answered right back in the bottom half of the frame.
With her sister Savannah Miller on third, London Miller gave her the green light to score the eventual game-winning run on a grounder to shortstop.
CBU found itself in a bit of hot water to open the nightcap after surrendering four runs in the first inning off two hits and a staggering three errors.
"I basically told the girls that we had to focus in and play better defense," said Baber. "Our pitcher was working hard but we weren't making smart throws. We started unfocused. We needed to make plays and not let the game get out of hand."
The Lancers managed to put a run in the bottom half of the inning off Mann's first home run, but were still in the hole.
The Sea Warriors put more pressure on in the third after adding two more insurance runs to hold a 6-1 advantage over the home squad.
Digging deep, the Lancers exploded in the fourth to come within one at 6-5. With no outs and runners on first and second, Kayla Gray singled down the right-field line to score Meyer. CBU loaded up the bases and capitalized on a costly error from HPU as Savannah Miller safely slid home to add another run.
"Once we started getting hits, it was like a domino effect, everyone started getting hits," said Baber. "Rachel did a great job hustling to beat the throw and then our pinch hitters did their job. We got the ball rolling with everyone believing."
Jordan Mowatt took ball four to add another run and August gave Rebecca Orozco the opportunity to score off a fielder's choice play, putting CBU within one run. Meyer found the tying run in the bottom of the fifth, blasting her home run over the fence at right center.
Trying to maintain control of the game, the Sea Warriors stayed in front in the sixth off two hits to take a 7-6 lead.
The lead didn't last long, however, as Mann drilled her second homer of the day with two runners on base.
"Krista had been a little down on herself after she made a couple of defensive mistakes, but we talked about it before she went to the plate," said Baber. "I told her that nothing matters except for the next pitch. She focused back in and got a pitch she could turn on. She has great power and let go of her mistakes. I was very impressed with how she focused in and came up huge for us, especially as a freshman."
Despite the 9-7 lead, the Lancers weren't done with their comeback as Kailey Willingham singled to right field to score London Miller before the Sea Warriors could grab the third putout. CBU then keyed in on defense to seal the 10-7 victory by taking the batters down in order.
Belinda Renne threw 14 innings in the circle for the Lancers, striking out nine batters and allowing just one earned run to grab the two wins.
CBU and HPU continue the second leg of their four-game series tomorrow with another doubleheader starting at 3 p.m.
