Walking The Walk

Monday, March 28

Riverside, Calif.

5:00 PM

California Baptist University

29-6, 14-5

Hawaii- Hilo

22-10, 12-3

Hawaii Hilo

California Baptist

Photo by: Jacob Gonzalez

3/28/2016 10:53:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Sammi Sheppard, Director of Sports Information

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — After moving into second place in the PacWest standings, No. 11 California Baptist University had no intention of surrendering its placement Monday evening. The Lancers had to grab the first win in walk-off fashion and turned around with a five-inning, run-rule victory to sweep Hawaii Hilo, which was just behind them in the standings.

The first game took 10 innings before CBU won it 2-1 on a Jordan Mowatt, walk-off RBI single. The Lancers then followed with a 12-3 mercy-rule win in the nightcap.

CBU improves to 30-6 overall, 13-3 in conference, to now sit tied for first place in the PacWest with No. 14-ranked Dixie State. The Lancers also extend their winning streak to 14-straight games with the sweep. The Vulcans drop to 22-11, 14-6 in conference with the losses.

Neither team could get a base runner until the third, but it was the Lancers who would take advantage of the runner. In the bottom half of the frame, Soraya Shahbazian knocked her first pitch into the gap in right center for a double. Mowatt then got a base hit, but the UHH center fielder couldn't cleanly scoop up the ball, allowing Shahbazian to round third instead of staying put on the bag to give CBU a 1-0 lead.

UHH looked like it might break Coleman's shutout streak in the top of the fourth, putting a runner on second. The next batter got a base hit, but Krista Mann hurled the ball home as London Miller made the tag to keep the Lancers in front 1-0.

CBU wanted some insurance over the Vulcans, but couldn't get it before UHH managed to tie the game in the top of the seventh.

Sarah Murphy started a rally in the bottom half of the inning, drawing ball four with two outs. Shahbazian then stepped up to the plate and doubled to right center and Murphy turned on the jets to round second and third to make her way home. The Vulcans kept the game going, however, as they made the tag at the plate to send the game into extra innings.

After neither team could grab the go-ahead run in the eighth or ninth, it started the tie-breaker rule for the 10^th, putting a runner on second to start the inning. UHH managed to get its runner to third with one out, but Coleman induced two grounders to keep the Vulcans from going ahead.

In the bottom half of the frame, CBU got to put one of its best runners on second since the rule puts the last batter from the previous inning on the bag. That put Murphy on second and the Lancers proceeded to load up the bases with no outs. Mowatt then drilled a ball into right field to send Murphy home for the game-winner.

CBU followed with another 1-0 lead in the nightcap as Mann knocked her fifth home run of the year over the fence at left.

UHH seemed to fall apart in the bottom of the third as the Lancers scored eight runs on six hits and three errors.

Jacque Lopez led the inning off with a single through the left side, before Erin Burkhart (error) and Miller (single) loaded up the bases. The Vulcans got one out, but Murphy singled deep to right center to tack on another run, 2-0. Shahbazian followed with another RBI single before UHH made a pitching change.

It didn't stop the CBU hitting train, though, as Ali Subia drove in another run, 4-0, with a base hit to center field. Hawaii Hilo's pitcher let a pitch get away from her, allowing Murphy to score and then walked Mowatt to load the bases once more.

The Vulcans did get their second out by catching a Lancer off the bag, but Mann drew ball four to load the bases once again. Back at the plate, Lopez singled once again through the left side, this time sending in two Lancers to score, 7-0.

Back-to-back errors added more insurance as CBU took a commanding 9-0 lead before Hawaii Hilo could get out of the inning.

In mercy-rule territory, the Vulcans needed to score at least two runs before the top of the fifth came to an end to keep the game going. They got three, sending CBU to the plate in the bottom of the fifth with a 9-3 lead.

Mann led off with a hard-hit double down the left field line and moved to third before UHH threatened to end the inning with two outs. Miller sent a base hit past the second baseman to score Mann, before Hannah Thieroff ended the game early with a two-run shot over the fence at left field, 12-3.

After six games in four days, CBU finally gets a breather before its next game on April 4. The Lancers will look to stay hot as they host Hawaii Pacific for a pair of games beginning at 5:00 p.m.