CBU Wins 12th Straight With Complete Effort

Tuesday, March 21

Kaneohe, Hawaii

4:00 PM

California Baptist University

19-7, 13-2

Hawaii Pacific

12-9, 5-6

California Baptist

Hawai'i Pacific

Photo by: Andrew Shortall

CBU Wins 12th Straight With Complete Effort

3/22/2017 12:15:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Andrew Shortall, Asst. Sports Information Director

KANEOHE, Calif. – A pair of complete-game performances in the circle from California Baptist University pitchers Kellye Springstead and Ciara Stapp led the Lancers to a huge doubleheader sweep of Hawai'i Pacific on Tuesday afternoon.

Overall, CBU held the Sharks to just two runs over 16 innings for an extra-inning 2-1 win to open things up and a 3-1 victory in the day's finale. It hands the Lancers their 12^th-straight win and 20^th victory of the year, as they improve to 20-7, 14-2 in conference and HPU drops to 12-10, 5-7.

"They're a tough team and they always are when you play here," Coach Bill Baber said of the Sharks. "To come in here and get a sweep is just fantastic for our team."

CBU gets two days off from games in Hawaii before beginning a four-game series with BYU-Hawaii this weekend. The set opens up with two games Friday starting at 4 p.m. Pacific and concludes with another pair on Saturday starting at 3 p.m.

Even when game one went two extra innings into the ninth, Springstead threw the complete game, struck out 12 batters and allowed just seven base runners on five hits and two walks in Tuesday's opener. The sophomore retired the Sharks in order in the first, second, sixth and eighth innings.

"There's pressure, but you just have to work through it mentally, physically and tell yourself to keep going," Springstead said. "My team kept fighting and that kept me going. You could feel our momentum shifting throughout the game, and we were able to put it together."

Stapp was just as impressive in the finale, as well. The freshman struck out eight over seven innings, while HPU scratched out four hits and one walk. Stapp got better as the game went on and sat the Sharks down 1-2-3 in the third, fifth and seventh innings.

"The pitching was fantastic," Baber said. "Kellye went all the way through into the ninth inning, going hard, even when some things fell apart behind her, it didn't bother her. Ciara came in and did a really good job and kept them off balance. The two of them really kept us in it until we could score those runs."

Offensively, Krista Mann played a big role in both victories. The senior shortstop drove in the game-winning run of the opener, with a double in the ninth, and batted 5-for-9 with three runs batted in over both games.

Brittany Galvez made her presence felt at third base and in the fifth spot in the lineup, going 3-for-8 with two doubles and a run scored for CBU. Caitlyn Lloyd and Alley Johnson were the other two Lancers to record a hit in both games Tuesday.

A late comeback led CBU to victory in game one. The Lancers overcame a one-run deficit they found themselves in after the third inning. With just six outs left to come back, Galvez sparked CBU with a leadoff double down the left-field line in the sixth. Hannah Thieroff sacrificed her over to third and Erin Burkhart tied the game with a run-scoring single into left field.

Springstead kept momentum with the Lancers, striking out the first and third batters for a 1-2-3 frame in the bottom of the sixth. The right-handed pitcher overcame an error that led off the bottom of the seventh and recorded six-straight outs to keep the game squared.

An error and walk to Johnson gave CBU life in the ninth. Mann came up clutch with a double into right center field to give the Lancers their first lead of the day, 2-1.

It could not have been much closer in the bottom of the ninth, as an error and fielder's choice put two HPU runners on with no outs. Springstead overcame the challenge and struck out two straight before getting the final batter to line out to shortstop to secure the win.

"It was intense, but you just have to remember to play your game, work through it and know the girl next to you is going to have your back," Springstead said.

After all the drama in game one, the Lancers came out and jumped in front first in the nightcap. Deanna Alarcon and Mann started a third-inning rally with a leadoff walk and single, respectively. Soraya Shahbazian hit a deep fly to right field to sacrifice Alarcon home for a 1-0 CBU lead.

With two outs in the fourth, Mann clutched up and gave the Lancers a 2-0 cushion with a single into center field scoring Ali Subia, who reached on a one-out single and took second on a walk to Alarcon.

"We adjusted in the second game and started getting the ball on the ground, getting more line drives and getting them through the defense," Baber said. "This is a big ball park and it's tough to get them out of here. Our team did a good job adjusting to that and that's what we're trying to do every game."

Hawai'i Pacific pulled within a run with a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth, but the Lancers got their insurance run back in the sixth when Mann singled back into center field to bring home Amanda Springstead, who was hit by a pitch and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch and Johnson single.