Open Season On Coyotes

Wednesday, February 4

Riverside

5:00 PM

California Baptist University

1-0

Cal State San Bernardino

0-1

CSU San Bernardino

California Baptist

Photo by: Jacob Gonzalez

2/4/2015 10:19:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Sammi Sheppard, Director of Sports Information

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Starting off the year as the No. 23-ranked team in NCAA Division II, California Baptist University opened strong with two wins over local-foe Cal State San Bernardino Wednesday. The Lancers shut out the Coyotes 2-0 in the first game and followed with a 6-2 nightcap win.

CBU starts the season 2-0, while the Coyotes open 0-2.

"It's a good way to start the season," said head coach Bill Baber. "I felt pretty confident going into today with our team. [The Coyotes are] better than they have been in the past, but I thought we came in ready to play."

Almost all 11 batters grabbed a hit on the day, with Kailey Willingham leading the charge. The first baseman went 4-for-6 at the plate, scoring one run and batting in three others. On the other corner of the infield, Ashley DeVaere followed with a 3-for-5 showing, blasting a home run and a double to score one run and grab an RBI.

"I thought Ashley and Kailey both hit well today," said Baber. "Ashley hit a nice one out of the park by staying in it."

In her collegiate debut, Sarah Murphy put down two hits and picked up two RBIs, while Tayler Castro grabbed another RBI and Jacque Lopez accounted for two of the Lancers' runs.

CSUSB kept the Lancers fairly quiet to begin the first game, not letting them round home until the bottom of the third. With two runners on, DeVaere loaded the bases with one out to put the Lancers in threatening position. Willingham took advantage of the runners in scoring position, battling back from an 0-2 count to knock in the first run of the night.

On defense, CBU took the Coyotes down in order in the next two innings, heading back to the plate. Leading off in the fifth, DeVaere blasted a shot over the fence in left center to give the home squad a 2-0 lead.

Needing to score two in the top of the seventh to keep the game going, the Coyotes came up empty to give the Lancers their first win of the young season. Loie Kesterson recorded her first shutout in her first start in a CBU jersey.

"Shutting them out gave our pitching some confidence," said Baber. "Loie pitched a good game and our defense backed her up well. It showed a lot in the first game."

In the nightcap, CBU came up big in the second to take another early lead. Willingham led off with a base hit to right center and was joined on base by Lopez. Willingham stole third and was sent home on a hard-hit single from Castro to second.

One out later, Murphy sent a shallow lob to right, but the Coyote made a diving catch to grab the second out. Lopez tagged up on the play, however, and beat the throw at home to add another run to CBU's tally.

Kayla Hatch kept things tight in the circle, keeping home unscathed despite the Coyotes putting runners in scoring position at second and third in the top of the fifth.

Determined to put some more runs on the board, Murphy led the bottom of the fifth off with a perfectly-weighted bunt, beating the throw to reach first safely. She then proceeded to steal second and was joined on by Jordan Mowatt. The pair advanced to scoring positions at third and second, respectively. DeVaere stepped up to the plate, but was intentionally walked to load the bases.

Willingham once again battled back from behind in the count to rocket a line drive into right, scoring two in the process on a two-out rally. The Coyotes managed to grab the third out, however, keeping CBU from tacking on more runs.

Two outfielders (Mowatt and Castro) made big defensive stops to help the Lancers keep CSUSB off the bags, putting CBU back on the attack looking to extend its lead. With one out and runners on first and second, the Coyotes looked like they were going to end the inning on a double play, but an illegal pitch was called to advance the runners and give Murphy new life at the plate.

Even though CSUSB still got Murphy out on a fly to right, the sacrifice allowed Lopez to score. Ali Subia, who had been on second, got another free base on a second illegal pitch and took advantage of a throwing error to score the Lancers' sixth run.

"I think we were trying to do too much in the first game," said Baber. "We talked about going to the little things and started to use our speed. We've got a lot of speed this year."

The Coyotes broke their scoreless streak on a two-run homer, but the Lancers grabbed the third and final out of the night as Mann snatched a pop fly to seal the win 6-2.

"Our defense stepped up today," said Baber. "We still have a ways to go with our hitting, but I'm not worried about it. We just need to learn to get key hits."

CBU will look to learn that lesson as it hits the road for some tough competition, heading to Tucson, Ariz., for the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II Leadoff Classic. The Lancers take on East Central at 5:30 p.m. to open the tournament before facing the No. 1 team in the division, West Texas A&M, at 7:30 p.m.

"We're hoping to carry some of this momentum from our pitchers and defense into this weekend," said Baber. "I think we played well, but we know we can play better. It starts with good defense. We'll need that this weekend, we're going up against some very tough opponents."