California Baptist University
BYU-Hawaii
Stylish Senior Send-Off
4/19/2014 10:34:00 PM | Softball
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Fit for Senior Day, senior Marshean August knocked a walk-off grand slam to end the nightcap in five innings, lifting No. 20-ranked California Baptist University 11-1 over visiting BYU-Hawaii. The run-rule victory came after the Lancers defeated the Seasiders 3-0 in the opener of the four-game series.
"What a great Senior Day," said head coach Bill Baber. "The whole day was nice for the seniors, the wins and a great crowd."
CBU improves to 37-11 on the season and 21-5 in PacWest play, inching closer to post-season action. The Seasiders fall to 10-20 overall, 6-17 in conference.
August finished the day with a team-high three hits, two of which were home runs, and scored two runs with five RBIs. Savannah Miller and Krista Mann also registered three hits on the day, with Savannah Miller posting a double and a triple and scoring two of the Lancers' 14 runs on the day. Two of Mann's hits also counted for extra bases as she grabbed two doubles and scored three runs.
In the opener, the Seasiders managed to hold off the Lancers until the bottom of the third. With two outs, Mann singled to left center to start the rally. As Savannah Miller laid down a bunt and safely ran to first. Despite Savannah Miller safely making it on base, BYUH's pitcher threw the ball off target and passed the first baseman, allowing Mann to score and Savannah Miller to reach third. London Miller stepped up to the plate and found a gap in left to score her sister and give CBU a 2-0 lead.
The Lancers struck again in the fifth, again with two outs on the board. Jordan Mowatt led off with a free trip to first on ball four and was joined on base by August, who singled to left. Mann sacrificed a bunt to advance both the runners and Savannah Miller loaded the bases with the second walk of the inning. BYUH's catcher didn't like Mowatt's lead on third and tried to pick off the runner, but the ball was off target, allowing Mowatt to score the third and final run of the game.
Belinda Renne struck out three batters in the last two frames to secure the 3-0 win for the Lancers, her 22nd victory and sixth shutout of the season.
"Belinda threw a great game," said Baber. "She really pitched well and had great defense behind her. I thought Rebecca Orozco did well at third for us as well. She gave a great defensive effort. We didn't swing the bats quite as well, but we got key hits to get runs in and took care of the first game."
Although they were kept fairly quiet in the first game, the Lancers came alive in the nightcap and posted 12 hits in just five innings.
"In the first game, we were hitting the ball hard, but they were making some good plays," said Baber. "We talked about continuing to hit like that. I told the girls that they would drop them eventually. We didn't need to panic. We just needed to focus back in and keep hitting the ball."
After the Seasiders scored in the opening frame, Mann started the hitting spree in the bottom half of the inning, doubling down the left line. Savannah Miller followed with a double of her own, finding a hole in left to score Mann. BYUH grabbed the second out of the inning, but CBU wasn't done scoring. Kailey Willingham knocked yet another double, scoring Savannah Miller to put the Lancers in front 2-1 early on.
CBU tacked on more runs in the third, again opening with a Mann double. With two outs and Mann and London Miller in scoring position at third and second, respectively, Jacque Lopez loaded the bases on ball four. Rachel Meyer sent two runners in with a base hit to left, extending CBU's lead to 4-1.
August found her first long ball of the day—11th of the season—in the fourth, rocketing it over the fence at left to give CBU a 5-1 cushion.
Back on defense, Meyer caught a Seasider runner attempting to steal and ended the inning by catching a ball behind home plate to put the Lancers on the attack once more.
CBU plated six runs on five hits and no errors—without surrendering a single putout—to end the game early due to the eight-run mercy rule. With Heather Smith on base, Lopez snuck a single through three BYUH infielders to put runners on first and second with no outs. Meyer walked to load up the bases and Tayler Castro snagged a base hit straight up the middle to score two.
Still with no outs and needing just two runs to seal the victory, Mowatt slapped a blooper single to load the bases as August stepped into the batter's box.
"As I stepped up to bat, I was thinking about scoring the runner from third," said August. "I just needed to wait for my perfect inside pitch, keep my back foot planted and throw my hands to the ball."
The senior outfielder stayed patient and found her pitch. August kept her back foot planted as she turned on the ball and sent it sailing over the fence at left once more, ending the game 11-1 in favor of the Lancers.
"When I saw it going over the fence again, I thought, 'Wow, thank you Lord,'" said August. "This was nobody but God. Not just two home runs, but a grand slam to share with my friends and family!"
"Wow," added Baber. "Marshean had two great, big hits. She got a hold of them and let them rip."
CBU will conclude its four-game series with BYUH on Tuesday with a doubleheader scheduled to start at 1 p.m. The pair of games will conclude the regular home season for the Lancers, with there still being a chance for CBU to host the first round of the NCAA Division II Championship Tournament. The Lancers currently sit in fourth place in the West Region rankings with two teams from each region hosting the first round.
Like they have all season, however, the Lancers are only looking at the task at hand, despite post-season right around the corner.
"These games were great today, but now they're over," said Baber. "We know what we have to do to win the PacWest, we need to keep winning. We can't carry the runs over into Tuesday. We have to forget today and get ready for the next game. Our approach is the same, keep looking 200 feet ahead. Don't look anywhere except right in front of you."
