California Baptist University
Cal State Monterey Bay
Deja Blues
4/6/2014 4:43:00 AM | Softball
TURLOCK, Calif. --- Playing five games in two days can be a difficult task, especially when facing off against some of the best teams the West has to offer. No. 2-ranked California Baptist University was kept fairly quiet, dropping two games with similar 4-3 scores Saturday in the Tournament of Champions, hosted by Mizuno.
The Lancers drop to 33-11 on the season with the pair of losses. No. 15 Cal State Monterey Bay took the first game and moved to 33-5 on the year. Sonoma State claimed the second 4-3 game to now stand 28-11.
CSUMB struck first in the opener, scoring two runs in the bottom of the second off one hit and one Lancer error, but CBU responded in its next chance at the plate. After Krista Mann took a free ticket down the line on ball four, Savannah Miller doubled down the left line to score Mann and cut the Otters' lead to 2-1.
In the bottom half of the inning, the Lancers took the Otters out in order, heading back to the dugout hungry for more runs. Ashley DeVaere led off the fourth with a hard-hit single to second and Rachel Meyer joined her on base after a rogue pitch hit her.
Jacque Lopez laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners and Jordan Mowatt followed with with a single up the middle, giving DeVaere the green light to score. Marshean August batted in the go-ahead run on a fielder's choice before the Otters could snag a third out.
The lead didn't last long, however, as CSUMB took it back in the bottom of the frame as Alissa Greenhaw blasted a two-run homer. The Otters held off the Lancers' pressure, with much help from the circle off five strikeouts, to win the game 4-3.
In the Lancers' final game of the tournament, once again their opponents got on the board first. SSU scored one run in its first chance on offense and held the 1-0 lead for the next full inning.
CBU evened the score in the top of the third off an August long ball over the fence at left center. The Seawolves responded in the same fashion, blasting a home run of their own in the bottom half of the inning to go back in front by one at 2-1.
Both teams kept quiet until the sixth when the Lancers scored two runs to take a 3-2 lead. August led off with a double to left and advanced to third on a Krista Mann base hit. Mann made her way to second on a passed ball and another passed ball advanced the runners one more base, allowing August to score the tying run.
With no outs and Mann on third, Miller knocked an RBI single to right to score Mann and put CBU in front 3-2. London Miller joined her sister on base with a double to right center, but the pair were left stranded in scoring positions as the Seawolves grabbed three-straight outs to avert the threat.
SSU turned right around on offense to plate the tying and go-ahead runs in the sixth and held off the Lancers in the top of the seventh to secure the 4-3 win.
CBU returns home ready to get back to its winning ways, hosting La Sierra for a pair of non-conference games on Thursday at 5 p.m.
