CBU Balances Way to Silverswords Sweep

Monday, March 20

Honolulu, Hawaii

7:30 PM

California Baptist University

17-7, 11-2

Chaminade

2-19, 0-11

California Baptist

Chaminade

Photo by: Andrew Shortall

CBU Balances Way to Silverswords Sweep

3/21/2017 12:09:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Andrew Shortall, Asst. Sports Information Director

WAIPAHU, Hawaii – It was scoreless through the first two innings of Monday's doubleheader, but there was no doubt it was only a matter of time before California Baptist University broke through against Chaminade at CORP Field.

Once the Lancers got going, it was impossible for the Silverswords to hold them back. A balanced offensive attack guided CBU to both wins of the PacWest doubleheader on scores of 8-3 and 7-2.

The Lancers improve their record to 18-7, 12-2 in the PacWest heading into another conference clash with Hawaii Pacific starting at 4 p.m. Pacific on Tuesday. Chaminade drops to 2-20, 0-12 on the year.

"We had to make a lot of adjustments today," Coach Bill Baber said. "I thought we did a good job hitting the ball up the middle and taking what the defense was giving us."

It helped give the Lancers a 10-game winning streak and first place in the PacWest. Azusa Pacific (19-8, 11-3) stands in second and Dixie State (26-7, 12-4) and Concordia (24-9-2, 12-4) are tied for third in the conference.

The heart of CBU's order, Caitlyn Lloyd and Soraya Shahbazian, did a ton of damage in the Lancers' sweep of the Silverswords. The duo combined to go 10-for-17 with 10 runs batted in, eight runs scored, and six extra-base hits (three home runs, three doubles) in both games.

"Coach really hates fly balls and when pitching is slow it's really tough to keep the ball on the ground," Lloyd said. "It really clicked in our heads in the second game, line drives are working. Our success today was on ground balls up the middle and line drives."

At the second spot in the lineup, Lloyd went 6-for-9 with a double, home run, three runs batted in and four more scored. The freshman helped set the table for Shahbazian, the No. 3 batter in the order, who went 4-for-8, with seven RBIs, four more scored, two doubles and two home runs over both games. The two-three punch did most of its damage in the second game, though, going eight-for-nine with five RBIs and five runs in the nightcap.

When it was needed, freshmen Deanna Alarcon and Alley Johnson provided the punch at the plate in game one. The respective eight and nine hitters combined to go five-for-eight with three runs and three stolen bases in the game.

"It seems like every game we talk afterward and it was somebody different who helped win that game," Baber said. "It just shows the depth that we have and the trust they have in each other. Nobody feels like they have to get it done every time."

"That's what the team is for," Lloyd said. "I know if I mess up, someone has my back. Sometimes it seems like the top of the lineup isn't doing well and the bottom of the lineup is, but today is just seemed like we all clicked together."

Alarcon put together a three-for-four performance at the plate. Alarcon, the second baseman, and right fielder Johnson sparked CBU's offensive breakthrough in Monday's first game, providing two-straight singles in the Lancers' five-run third inning.

Krista Mann followed Alarcon and Johnson with a third-consecutive single to load the bases with no outs. Lloyd drove in two with a single into center field and Shahbazian plated two more with a double into the gap in left center. A sacrifice fly from Hannah Thieroff capped the scoring and put CBU ahead 5-0.

A leadoff homer from Ali Subia pushed the Lancers' lead to 6-0 in the fourth inning, but Chaminade gave itself an ounce of hope with a three-run fifth to make it a 6-3 game. CBU added some more insurance with a run in the sixth and seventh innings.

Johnson used her speed to score in the sixth. The freshman led off with a single and stole second and third base before coming home on a grounder to third off the bat of Shahbazian. In the seventh, Thieroff coaxed a leadoff walk and then gave way to pinch runner Ashley Van Why, who moved up to third on consecutive ground outs and then scored on a two-out single from Alarcon.

With Kellye Springstead in the circle, the Lancers would not need any of the late insurance their offense provided. The sophomore pitcher picked up her first save of the season by allowing just one base runner (hit by pitch) and striking out two over the final 2.2 innings.

CBU's offense wasted no time in game two, getting off to an explosive start on back-to-back, solo homers from Lloyd and Shahbazian in the first inning. The 2-0 lead turned to three when Shahbazian doubled home Amanda Springstead (hit by pitch) in the second.

"I was really proud of the way [Lloyd and Shahbazian] let other things go in that first game and then came back and jumped right out in that first inning," Baber said. "It really set the tone."

Amanda Springstead posted an RBI double of her own in the third to plate Erin Burkhart (walk). A one-out double from Lloyd in the fourth quickly gave way to CBU's sixth run, as London Miller drove her in with a single up the middle.

While CBU's offense stayed hot, pitching stole the show in the early going of Monday's nightcap. Ciara Stapp allowed just four hits, four walks, the two runs and struck out four in a complete-game effort for CBU. The freshman took a no-hit bid into the fifth inning, but saw it ended on an infield single coming on a soft dribbler right in front of the batter's box.

It led to two Chaminade runs in the inning, as the Silverswords cut their deficit back down to three, 5-2. The Lancers got both runs back on Shahbazian's second home run of the game, a two-run shot that also scored Lloyd.