Saturday, April 15
Riverside, Calif.
12:00 PM
California Baptist University
34-8, 24-3
1
vs
2
Azusa Pacific
27-16, 18-7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Azusa Pacific
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
6
0
California Baptist
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
9
0
Photo by: Conner Schuh
Bouncing Back Against the Rivals
4/15/2017 5:31:00 PM | Softball
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — After dropping a 2-1 extra-innings loss in the opener, No. 17-ranked California Baptist University bounced back to shutout rival Azusa Pacific 4-0 in the nightcap.
The win puts the Lancers well within reach of the PacWest Conference title, just needing one more victory to clinch it outright. CBU now sits 35-8 overall and 25-3 in conference. The Cougars are out of contention to defend their 2016 title after the Lancers beat them in the nightcap, sitting 27-17 overall, 18-8 in the PacWest.
APU took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning of the opener and kept the Lancers off balanced until late in the game.
Soraya Shahbazian gave CBU some energy with a clutch diving catch in center to end the top of the seventh and was the first batter up in the bottom of the frame. She came out on top of a full-count battle, doubling to right center.
The Cougars managed to get two outs, but CBU still had hope with Brittany Galvez (fielder's choice) and Halle Rosario (fielder's choice) on base. Hannah Thieroff then stepped up to the plate and drilled a base hit to center, allowing Galvez to even the game at 1-1.
CBU had a chance to take the game in the bottom of the eighth, but the APU defense came up with a surprising double play to end the inning, still tied 1-1.
APU managed to score the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth and held on for the 2-1 win, despite Kellye Springstead throwing lights out in the game. The sophomore finished with five strikeouts in her nine innings in the circle.
The Lancers completely shook off the first game and came out fired up in the second game, capitalizing first in the bottom of the fourth. Caitlyn Lloyd took advantage of a Cougar error to lead the inning off and was joined on base by London Miller with a single through the left side.
It looked like the visitors might get out of the game as they grabbed the second out, but Erin Burkhart entered the batter's box and drilled a double off the wall at right center to score both runners, 2-0.
The Lancers tacked on some insurance in the fifth to boast a three-run advantage. Amanda Springstead led the inning off by turning on the first pitch she saw for a base hit and moved into scoring position as Deanna Alarcon doubled in almost the same spot at right center. Liz Dickson then took over the running responsibility at third.
Krista Mann gave APU's shortstop an option of either tossing the ball over to first to get Mann out or trying to get Dickson, who was sprinting home. The Cougar made the wrong choice, however, as Dickson came sliding home safely, 3-0, and Mann reached as well.
APU threatened to break Ciara Stapp's shutout in the top of the sixth, putting two runners on with two outs, but Brittany Galvez kept the Cougars off the board with a routine grounder to end the inning.
The Lancers put together a two-out rally of their own in the bottom half of the frame as Ali Subia and Hannah Thieroff each drew ball four to get on base. Mann then sent a base hit to the gap at left center, allowing Subia to cap the scoring at 4-0.
Stapp took the seventh in her hands, making the first two putouts with grounders back to the pitcher and Galvez sealed the victory with the third out.
The Lancers have four games left in the regular season, hosting Dixie State for the final matchup of the PacWest. First pitch of the first doubleheader is scheduled for Friday at 5:00 p.m. with the series concluding Saturday with a noon doubleheader.
The win puts the Lancers well within reach of the PacWest Conference title, just needing one more victory to clinch it outright. CBU now sits 35-8 overall and 25-3 in conference. The Cougars are out of contention to defend their 2016 title after the Lancers beat them in the nightcap, sitting 27-17 overall, 18-8 in the PacWest.
APU took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning of the opener and kept the Lancers off balanced until late in the game.
Soraya Shahbazian gave CBU some energy with a clutch diving catch in center to end the top of the seventh and was the first batter up in the bottom of the frame. She came out on top of a full-count battle, doubling to right center.
The Cougars managed to get two outs, but CBU still had hope with Brittany Galvez (fielder's choice) and Halle Rosario (fielder's choice) on base. Hannah Thieroff then stepped up to the plate and drilled a base hit to center, allowing Galvez to even the game at 1-1.
CBU had a chance to take the game in the bottom of the eighth, but the APU defense came up with a surprising double play to end the inning, still tied 1-1.
APU managed to score the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth and held on for the 2-1 win, despite Kellye Springstead throwing lights out in the game. The sophomore finished with five strikeouts in her nine innings in the circle.
The Lancers completely shook off the first game and came out fired up in the second game, capitalizing first in the bottom of the fourth. Caitlyn Lloyd took advantage of a Cougar error to lead the inning off and was joined on base by London Miller with a single through the left side.
It looked like the visitors might get out of the game as they grabbed the second out, but Erin Burkhart entered the batter's box and drilled a double off the wall at right center to score both runners, 2-0.
The Lancers tacked on some insurance in the fifth to boast a three-run advantage. Amanda Springstead led the inning off by turning on the first pitch she saw for a base hit and moved into scoring position as Deanna Alarcon doubled in almost the same spot at right center. Liz Dickson then took over the running responsibility at third.
Krista Mann gave APU's shortstop an option of either tossing the ball over to first to get Mann out or trying to get Dickson, who was sprinting home. The Cougar made the wrong choice, however, as Dickson came sliding home safely, 3-0, and Mann reached as well.
APU threatened to break Ciara Stapp's shutout in the top of the sixth, putting two runners on with two outs, but Brittany Galvez kept the Cougars off the board with a routine grounder to end the inning.
The Lancers put together a two-out rally of their own in the bottom half of the frame as Ali Subia and Hannah Thieroff each drew ball four to get on base. Mann then sent a base hit to the gap at left center, allowing Subia to cap the scoring at 4-0.
Stapp took the seventh in her hands, making the first two putouts with grounders back to the pitcher and Galvez sealed the victory with the third out.
The Lancers have four games left in the regular season, hosting Dixie State for the final matchup of the PacWest. First pitch of the first doubleheader is scheduled for Friday at 5:00 p.m. with the series concluding Saturday with a noon doubleheader.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Xepoleas, Carly (7-5)
L: Springstead, Kellye (11-3)
Batting:
2B: Jimenez, Kayla 1 ; Jaramillo, Erinn 1
RBI: Jimenez, Kayla 1 ; Jaramillo, Erinn 1
SH: Broussard, Cayla 1 ; Moreno, Abry 1
SF: Jimenez, Kayla 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jimenez, Illiana 1 ; Jimenez, Kayla 1
SB: Sprague, Nicki 1
HBP: Moran, Emily 1
Batting:
2B: Shahbazian, Soraya 1
RBI: Thieroff, Hannah 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Galvez, Brittany 1
PO: Johnson, Alley 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
2B/SS
/ Softball
C/1B
/ Softball
2B/OF
/ Softball
3B
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballSS
/ SoftballC/OF
/ Softball
UT
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P/1B
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
1B/3B
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