Friday, April 24
Riverside
5:00 PM
California Baptist University
38-9, 23-6
10
vs
2
Dominican (Calif.)
14-28, 11-16
1
2
3
4
5
R
H
E
Dominican
0
0
2
0
0
2
3
1
California Baptist
0
0
6
3
1
10
7
0
Photo by: Leigh Ann Lindsey
Wind It Up
4/24/2015 9:53:00 PM | Softball
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Although No. 16-ranked California Baptist University may not be able to host the NCAA Division II West Regional or Super Regional due to construction on campus, the Lancers had no intention of letting off the throttle as the season winds down, with only two doubleheaders before postseason. Friday night, CBU claimed an eight-run rule 10-2 victory in five innings and went on to finish the doubleheader sweep with a 7-2 nightcap win.
With the sweep, the Lancers improve to 39-9 overall and 24-6 in conference. The Penguins drop to 14-29 on the season, 11-17 in the PacWest.
"We didn't start the game very focused," said Baber. "Once they scored those runs on us, we kind of woke up. Dominican has a good team and if you don't play well, they're going to beat you."
It took the Penguins taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the third in the first game to spark the hits for CBU, as Jacque Lopez laid down the first hit of the day with Ashley DeVaere on base. The junior laced a single straight back to the pitcher, but it was too much to handle as it banked off her glove to put runners on first and second.
Dominican put two outs on the board, threatening to keep its lead, but Jenna Lieber had other plans as she knocked a single and head coach Bill Baber gave DeVaere the green light to round third and cut the deficit to one, 2-1. Sarah Murphy loaded up the bases and Jordan Mowatt advanced each runner by finding the gap through the left side.
"We've seen it before, where once somebody goes, we all go," said Baber on his team all getting in on the hitting action. "We just need a spark and once we get it, it spreads through the team."
Savannah Miller kept the two-out rally going in a big way, drilling her shot over the fence in right for a grand slam. Before CBU could do more damage, the Penguins grabbed the third out to end the inning down 6-2.
"Savannah hit a great pitch and knocked it out of the park," said Baber. "That really spread the game open for us."
Loie Kesterson and her defense kept Dominican from answering back in the next frame, allowing CBU to extend its lead in the bottom half of the inning. Kailey Willingham sent a one-out homer over the fence at left.
The Lancers proceeded to load up the bases and Murphy drove in two more runs with a base hit to left. Once again, Dominican ended the inning before the home team could tack on more runs, holding a 9-2 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, CBU had the chance to end the game early, just needing one run for the mercy win. The Lancers put runners on all three bases with one out and Castro took a rogue ball to the body to end the game 10-2 in true walk-off fashion.
CBU jumped out in front, 2-0, in the nightcap, scoring both runs in its first chance at the plate. Miller led off with a huge triple down the right field line and was joined on base by Mann on ball four. Miller scored on a fielder's choice as the Penguin shortstop turned to make the play at third. Her throw was off target, however, allowing Mann to touch the base safely and advance on, putting the Lancers up 2-0.
The Penguins evened the score in the top of the third on three hits, but CBU took back its lead in the bottom half of the inning. Castro singled to left, picking up two RBIs in the process, and Lieber followed with an RBI single to make it 5-2 in favor of the Lancers.
"I was proud of the girls for not panicking when they tied the game," said Baber. "We kept doing what we know what to do and stayed within ourselves. I was really glad to see they could do that. The team is on a roll right now, they're confident in their play. I think that's why we didn't let it faze us."
With bases loaded in the fourth, Willingham, who leads the conference in sacrifice flies — forfeited her ninth sacrifice fly of the season to put her team in front, 6-2. Murphy capped the scoring for the night by tucking a double just fair down the left field line, scoring Castro in the fifth.
Kayla Hatch picked up her 20th win by throwing three innings in the circle for CBU. Kesterson came on in relief for her in the fourth to grab the Lancers' first save of the year. She struck out five Penguins in four innings of action.
"I think we're playing well right now," said Baber. "We have some good momentum going into the regional and I'm hoping to keep that going tomorrow. The team is in a real good place."
CBU and Dominican return to John C. Funk Stadium on Saturday for the final doubleheader of the regular season, beginning at noon. Three seniors — Savannah Miller, Kailey Willingham and Ashley DeVaere — along with two other Lancers ending their careers prematurely due to injuries — Belinda Renne and Brittany Boone — will be honored in between games.
"We're playing for our seniors tomorrow," said Baber. "With all the hard work they've put in over their careers, we want to send them out on a high. I told the girls to have some fun tomorrow and dedicate those two games to our seniors."
With the sweep, the Lancers improve to 39-9 overall and 24-6 in conference. The Penguins drop to 14-29 on the season, 11-17 in the PacWest.
"We didn't start the game very focused," said Baber. "Once they scored those runs on us, we kind of woke up. Dominican has a good team and if you don't play well, they're going to beat you."
It took the Penguins taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the third in the first game to spark the hits for CBU, as Jacque Lopez laid down the first hit of the day with Ashley DeVaere on base. The junior laced a single straight back to the pitcher, but it was too much to handle as it banked off her glove to put runners on first and second.
Dominican put two outs on the board, threatening to keep its lead, but Jenna Lieber had other plans as she knocked a single and head coach Bill Baber gave DeVaere the green light to round third and cut the deficit to one, 2-1. Sarah Murphy loaded up the bases and Jordan Mowatt advanced each runner by finding the gap through the left side.
"We've seen it before, where once somebody goes, we all go," said Baber on his team all getting in on the hitting action. "We just need a spark and once we get it, it spreads through the team."
Savannah Miller kept the two-out rally going in a big way, drilling her shot over the fence in right for a grand slam. Before CBU could do more damage, the Penguins grabbed the third out to end the inning down 6-2.
"Savannah hit a great pitch and knocked it out of the park," said Baber. "That really spread the game open for us."
Loie Kesterson and her defense kept Dominican from answering back in the next frame, allowing CBU to extend its lead in the bottom half of the inning. Kailey Willingham sent a one-out homer over the fence at left.
The Lancers proceeded to load up the bases and Murphy drove in two more runs with a base hit to left. Once again, Dominican ended the inning before the home team could tack on more runs, holding a 9-2 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, CBU had the chance to end the game early, just needing one run for the mercy win. The Lancers put runners on all three bases with one out and Castro took a rogue ball to the body to end the game 10-2 in true walk-off fashion.
CBU jumped out in front, 2-0, in the nightcap, scoring both runs in its first chance at the plate. Miller led off with a huge triple down the right field line and was joined on base by Mann on ball four. Miller scored on a fielder's choice as the Penguin shortstop turned to make the play at third. Her throw was off target, however, allowing Mann to touch the base safely and advance on, putting the Lancers up 2-0.
The Penguins evened the score in the top of the third on three hits, but CBU took back its lead in the bottom half of the inning. Castro singled to left, picking up two RBIs in the process, and Lieber followed with an RBI single to make it 5-2 in favor of the Lancers.
"I was proud of the girls for not panicking when they tied the game," said Baber. "We kept doing what we know what to do and stayed within ourselves. I was really glad to see they could do that. The team is on a roll right now, they're confident in their play. I think that's why we didn't let it faze us."
With bases loaded in the fourth, Willingham, who leads the conference in sacrifice flies — forfeited her ninth sacrifice fly of the season to put her team in front, 6-2. Murphy capped the scoring for the night by tucking a double just fair down the left field line, scoring Castro in the fifth.
Kayla Hatch picked up her 20th win by throwing three innings in the circle for CBU. Kesterson came on in relief for her in the fourth to grab the Lancers' first save of the year. She struck out five Penguins in four innings of action.
"I think we're playing well right now," said Baber. "We have some good momentum going into the regional and I'm hoping to keep that going tomorrow. The team is in a real good place."
CBU and Dominican return to John C. Funk Stadium on Saturday for the final doubleheader of the regular season, beginning at noon. Three seniors — Savannah Miller, Kailey Willingham and Ashley DeVaere — along with two other Lancers ending their careers prematurely due to injuries — Belinda Renne and Brittany Boone — will be honored in between games.
"We're playing for our seniors tomorrow," said Baber. "With all the hard work they've put in over their careers, we want to send them out on a high. I told the girls to have some fun tomorrow and dedicate those two games to our seniors."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kesterson, Loie (19-6)
L: Goodner, Kelsey (3-5)
Batting:
RBI: Harden, Katelyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rodriguez, Kayla 1 ; Lanza, Alyssa 1
SB: Rodriguez, Kayla 2
HBP: Mesa, Leslie 1
Batting:
HR: Miller, Savannah 1 ; Willingham, Kailey 1
RBI: Miller, Savannah 4 ; Willingham, Kailey 1 ; Castro, Tayler 1 ; Lieber, Jenna 1 ; Murphy, Sarah 2 ; Mowatt, Jordan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Miller, Savannah 1 ; DeVaere, Ashley 1 ; Cody, Brittany 1 ; Willingham, Kailey 1 ; Lopez, Jacque 2 ; Castro, Tayler 1 ; Korras, Amber 1 ; Murphy, Sarah 1 ; Mowatt, Jordan 1
CS: Smith, Heather 1
HBP: Castro, Tayler 1 ; Lieber, Jenna 2
Game Leaders
AB
2
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
4
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
1
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
P
/ Softball
3B
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballP
/ Softball2B/SS
/ SoftballC
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball1B
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