Friday, April 8
St. George, Utah
2:00 PM
California Baptist University
33-6, 0
2
at
0
Dixie State
27-8, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
California Baptist
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
2
6
1
Dixie State
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
1
Storming Out Of The Box
4/8/2016 8:24:00 PM | Softball
ST. GEORGE, Utah — With two of the top teams in not only the PacWest, but NCAA Division II as well, Friday's doubleheader in St. George, Utah, had a lot on the line. No. 9-ranked California Baptist University and No. 13-ranked Dixie State both had double-digit win streaks (16 and 14, respectively) going into the matchup and were tied for first in the PacWest standings.
That all changed, however, as the Lancers grabbed a 2-0 shutout in the opener and followed with a 7-5 victory in the nightcap.
"We battled it out in two hard-fought games," said Coach Bill Baber. "I'm very proud of the girls."
CBU improves to 34-6 overall, 17-3 in conference to move into sole possession of first place in the conference. The victories also extend the Lancers' unbeaten streak to 18-consecutive games, setting a new winning streak record in a single season since transitioning to NCAA Division II – previously set in 2012. The Red Storm drop to 27-9 on the year and 15-5 in the PacWest with the losses.
Both teams could get runners on in the opener, but couldn't quite seem to send them home for the first four innings.
Momentum shifted in the top of the fifth, however, as CBU started a two-out rally. Jacque Lopez turned on the jets and distracted the Red Storm's first baseman as the ball got away from her, allowing Lopez to safely reach and make her way to second.
Erin Burkhart then stepped up to the plate, but found herself behind in the count, 1-2. The next pitch was just right as the junior turned on it and drilled it over the fence at left center. It was the perfect time for Burkhart to get her first home run of the season, putting CBU in front 2-0.
"What a shot for Erin," said Baber. "She should've gotten one in the second game too, but the center fielder leaped up and took it away."
The Lancers couldn't get some added insurance in their next two chances at the plate and went into the bottom of the seventh looking to hold off the Red Storm. Ashley Coleman and her defense wouldn't let DSU get a single runner on in the frame, sealing the 2-0 victory. She allowed just three hits and struck out three batters in seven innings pitched for the shutout.
Looking to carry that momentum over into the nightcap, CBU wasted little time to get on the board. With bases loaded and no outs, London Miller found the sweet spot on her bat for a grand slam to left center to put the Lancers up 4-0 early.
Kayla Hatch and her defense then took the Red Storm down in order to go back on offense in the top of the second.
Krista Mann and Lopez led the inning off with back-to-back walks, but DSU grabbed two outs to threaten to leave them stranded. Hannah Thieroff stayed patient at the plate and despite taking three-straight balls, drilled the fourth pitch down the left field line to send both runners in to put CBU up 6-0.
The Red Storm broke their scoreless drought in the bottom half of the inning and then tacked on another in the fourth to cut the margin in half, 6-3.
Determined to not let this one slip away, CBU had a response in the next half inning. With two runners on and one out, Jordan Mowatt singled straight up the middle to send Sarah Murphy home from second, 7-3.
DSU started to get desperate for the four runs to keep the game going, but Kellye Springstead — who came on in relief in the fourth — would only allow two to secure her eighth win of the season. Both Springstead and Hatch finished the game with three strikeouts each.
The two teams battle it out once again on Saturday with a doubleheader scheduled to start at 11:00 a.m. Pacific time.
That all changed, however, as the Lancers grabbed a 2-0 shutout in the opener and followed with a 7-5 victory in the nightcap.
"We battled it out in two hard-fought games," said Coach Bill Baber. "I'm very proud of the girls."
CBU improves to 34-6 overall, 17-3 in conference to move into sole possession of first place in the conference. The victories also extend the Lancers' unbeaten streak to 18-consecutive games, setting a new winning streak record in a single season since transitioning to NCAA Division II – previously set in 2012. The Red Storm drop to 27-9 on the year and 15-5 in the PacWest with the losses.
Both teams could get runners on in the opener, but couldn't quite seem to send them home for the first four innings.
Momentum shifted in the top of the fifth, however, as CBU started a two-out rally. Jacque Lopez turned on the jets and distracted the Red Storm's first baseman as the ball got away from her, allowing Lopez to safely reach and make her way to second.
Erin Burkhart then stepped up to the plate, but found herself behind in the count, 1-2. The next pitch was just right as the junior turned on it and drilled it over the fence at left center. It was the perfect time for Burkhart to get her first home run of the season, putting CBU in front 2-0.
"What a shot for Erin," said Baber. "She should've gotten one in the second game too, but the center fielder leaped up and took it away."
The Lancers couldn't get some added insurance in their next two chances at the plate and went into the bottom of the seventh looking to hold off the Red Storm. Ashley Coleman and her defense wouldn't let DSU get a single runner on in the frame, sealing the 2-0 victory. She allowed just three hits and struck out three batters in seven innings pitched for the shutout.
Looking to carry that momentum over into the nightcap, CBU wasted little time to get on the board. With bases loaded and no outs, London Miller found the sweet spot on her bat for a grand slam to left center to put the Lancers up 4-0 early.
Kayla Hatch and her defense then took the Red Storm down in order to go back on offense in the top of the second.
Krista Mann and Lopez led the inning off with back-to-back walks, but DSU grabbed two outs to threaten to leave them stranded. Hannah Thieroff stayed patient at the plate and despite taking three-straight balls, drilled the fourth pitch down the left field line to send both runners in to put CBU up 6-0.
The Red Storm broke their scoreless drought in the bottom half of the inning and then tacked on another in the fourth to cut the margin in half, 6-3.
Determined to not let this one slip away, CBU had a response in the next half inning. With two runners on and one out, Jordan Mowatt singled straight up the middle to send Sarah Murphy home from second, 7-3.
DSU started to get desperate for the four runs to keep the game going, but Kellye Springstead — who came on in relief in the fourth — would only allow two to secure her eighth win of the season. Both Springstead and Hatch finished the game with three strikeouts each.
The two teams battle it out once again on Saturday with a doubleheader scheduled to start at 11:00 a.m. Pacific time.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Coleman, Ashley (14-2)
L: Feickert, Aryn (15-4)
Batting:
HR: Burkhart, Erin 1
RBI: Burkhart, Erin 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Lopez, Jacque 1 ; Burkhart, Erin 1
Batting:
SH: Beardshear, Brooklyn 1
Base Running:
CS: Bassett, Janessa 1
HBP: Yung, Shelby 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
0
H
3
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
C/1B
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball2B/SS
/ SoftballSS
/ Softball
C/OF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
P/1B
/ Softball
1B/3B
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