Lancers Go Long - CBU Athletics

Saturday, March 31

Riverside, Calif.

12:00 PM

California Baptist University

21-5, 13-2

Concordia (Calif.)

20-9, 11-4

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Concordia (Irvine)	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	2	6	0
California Baptist	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	3	2

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Concordia (Irvine)	0	0	0	1	0	1	2	0
California Baptist	1	0	2	6	X	9	8	0

Photo by: Conner Schuh

3/31/2018 6:08:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Sammi Wellman, Director of Sports Information

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — No. 24-ranked California Baptist University exploded on offense in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against Concordia University of Irvine to grab a 9-1 run-rule victory. It was a great response after the Lancers, who had four home runs on the day, just dropped the opener 2-1.

CBU sits 22-5 overall and 14-2 in the PacWest, still holding onto its first-place standing. The Eagles boast a 20-10, 9-5 conference mark.

"I thought the girls did a great job coming back after losing a tough game," said Coach Bill Baber. "They kept their heads up and came back with confidence in the second game."

Despite going down 2-0 in the first game, the Lancers never gave up and put a rally together in the bottom of the fifth. Manoa Weijgertse got things started with her first home run in a CBU uniform. She turned on her pitch and sent it sailing over the fence in left to cut the score to 2-1.

Anise Avalos walked, but the Eagles got the next two outs. Cheyann Tucker kept the rally going, doubling to left and Soraya Shahbazian loaded up the bases. The two-out rally ended before the Lancers could do more damage, however, as CUI grabbed the third out to get out of the jam.

The Lancers never gave up and tried to rally once again in the seventh, putting two runners on, but Concordia sealed the 2-1 victory.

CBU didn't waste time in the finale, scoring in its first chance at the plate. Caitlyn Lloyd led the inning off with a free pass to first and came home on a Hannah Thieroff double.

Lloyd doubled the Lancers' lead with a leadoff homer in the top of the third, 2-0. CBU loaded the bases and Halle Rosario walked in another run, extending the lead to 3-0.

The Eagles broke through in the top of the fourth to cut the score to 3-1, but it was the only run Kellye Springstead and her defense would allow. Springstead finished with three strikeouts, while Ciara Stapp grabbed another strikeout in one inning of action.

CBU responded back in a huge way, scoring five runs in the bottom half of the inning. Despite going down two outs, the Lancers put two runners on and Thieroff took advantage. She blasted a home run deep to center field, 6-1.

Ali Subia took a rogue pitch to the body, before Concordia made a pitching change. It didn't deter the Lancers, however, as Rosario drilled a two-run homer to left. It was only a matter of time for Rosario after she had two long shots just left in foul territory, 8-1.

CBU wasn't done yet, though, as Tucker singled through the left side. Ashley McBay took over running for Tucker and Avalos doubled in a similar gap to send McBay home, 9-1.

The Lancers needed just three outs to put the mercy rule into play and they got just that.

CBU heads to Biola on Wednesday for a doubleheader, with first pitch set for 4:00 p.m.