One Way Or Another

Wednesday, March 11

Laie, HI

4:00 PM

California Baptist University

21-6, 10-3

BYU-Hawaii

4-13, 2-7

Cal Baptist

BYU-Hawaii

Photo by: Lauren Garcia

3/11/2015 9:51:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Sammi Sheppard, Director of Sports Information

LAIE, Hawaii — It wasn't always pretty, but No. 17 California Baptist University found a way to win a close 7-6 first game and exploded for a 9-0 blanking over BYU-Hawaii Wednesday.

The Lancers move to 22-6 on the season and 11-3 in the PacWest with the pair of wins, while the Seasiders drop to 4-14 overall, 2-12 in conference.

Jacque Lopez found the first hit of the day with a base hit through the left side and was joined on base by Tayler Castro and Jenna Lieber, who both drew walks. Heather Smith took over the running for Lieber and advanced to second as Sarah Murphy knocked a hard-hit infield single to keep the bases loaded with one out.

In the next play, the Seasiders managed to get the force out at home. Hoping for a double play, the catcher threw the ball to another base, but it wasn't on target and skirted away from her teammate to allow two more Lancer runs, giving the visitors a commanding 4-0 lead.

CBU tacked on another run in the third as Kailey Willingham grabbed an RBI single by tucking the hit inside first base to score Ashley DeVaere from second.

Down 5-0, BYUH broke the scoreless barrier in the bottom half of the inning, but Savannah Miller gave the Lancers back their five-run lead in the top of the fourth with an RBI single of her own.

Still, the Seasiders answered back with another run in the bottom of the inning. Lopez gave CBU a response in its next turn at the plate, scoring on another Murphy infield single to put the Lancers in front 7-2.

BYUH made things interesting by closing the gap to 7-4 in the bottom half of the fifth and put pressure on the visitors in the seventh. The Seasiders scored two runs to be within one run at 7-6, with bases loaded. CBU had two outs already in hand and tightened down on defense to secure the win as DeVaere collected a ground ball and tossed it to Willingham on first to end the game.

Despite the close call in the opener, CBU came out in the second hungry for runs. The Seasiders kept the Lancers off the board in the first, but couldn't hold off the visitors as Castro and Nicole Hennessey put runners on, allowing Murphy to single to left to bat one run in.

Neither team could put enough hits together to add to the score line until the sixth when Castro doubled CBU's lead by taking advantage of another Seasider error.

The Lancers came alive in the seventh, putting the game well out of reach as they scored seven runs on seven hits. Krista Mann led off with a single up the middle and was joined on base as DeVaere followed with a similar base hit. Chelsea Rosario took over the base running and, along with Mann, moved closer into scoring position on a passed ball. Willingham stepped up to the plate and drilled a 0-1 count over the wall at left field to put the Lancers up 5-0 with no outs.

BYUH changed pitchers, but Lopez drew four-straight balls to take a spot on first. Castro joined her with a single up the middle before the Seasiders could grab the first out. Ali Subia loaded the bases by drawing a free trip to first on ball four, giving Brittany Cody the opportunity to rocket a double to right center, scoring two. Miller kept the hit train going with an RBI single through the gap on the left side and Mann capped the scoring with an RBI of her own, tucking a base hit inside third base.

Down 9-0, BYUH needed its own monster inning but couldn't muster any hits to give the Lancers the doubleheader sweep and Kayla Hatch her 11th win and third shutout of the season.

CBU hops over to the Big Island to conclude its Hawaiian trip, taking on UH-Hilo in a four-game series. The first pitch between the Vulcans and Lancers is set for a 4:00 p.m. (Pacific time) on Friday.