Crosstown Showdown

Wednesday, April 10

Riverside, Calif.

6:00 PM

California Baptist University

16-24

UC Riverside

21-15

UC Riverside

California Baptist

Photo by: Reagan Lee

4/10/2019 9:18:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Mike Minyard, Assoc. AD for External Relations

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – In the first meeting between the two programs since 2001, California Baptist University came up short in a 3-2 battle against UC Riverside in the Crosstown Showdown at CBU's Funk Stadium on Wednesday night.

The Highlanders took an early 2-0 lead, scoring an unearned run in both the top half of the second and third innings.

CBU posted a run on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth, but threatened to do even more damage having bases loaded with just one out. UCR was able to cut a run at home on a fielder's choice for the second out of the inning. In the next at-bat, Deanna Alarcon reached on an infield error that allowed Caitlyn Lloyd to score, but pinch runner Molly Kolander was thrown out trying to score on the play to end the inning. CBU cut the lead to 2-1.

Lancers with the bases loaded, score one to cut into the UCR lead. One run game after four innings.#LanceUp | #BeatUCR pic.twitter.com/zbktOWe9zD
— CBU Softball (@CBUSoftball) April 11, 2019

UCR responded quickly, scoring another unearned run in the top of fifth. Hannah Rodriguez led the inning off with a single and advanced to second on a passed ball. Rodriguez was moved over to third on an attempted sacrifice bunt that involved the third CBU error of the game. She eventually scored on a wild pitch, extending UCR's lead back to two runs at 3-1.

The Lancers were not going to go down easily. Anise Avalos led the sixth inning off with a solo shot, her fifth home run of the season, to pull the score within a single run at 3-2. CBU had a pair of walks in the inning, but was unable to capitalize.

Anise Avalos with the 💣

Her fifth HR of the season!#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/0jAFToy2VS
— CBU Softball (@CBUSoftball) April 11, 2019

Kellye Springstead pitched her 19^th complete game of the season for the Lancers. She gave up three runs, all unearned, on five hits without allowing a walk while striking out eight batters.

UCR clinched the 3-2 victory as CBU went down in order in the bottom half of the seventh.

With CBU in its first year at the NCAA Division I level, the match-up was the first-ever for the two at the DI level despite 52 previous meetings.

The Lancers move to 16-24 overall. CBU has lost nine of its last 11 contests with six of those games being decided by a single run. UCR improves to 21-15 on the year after starting the season 4-12.

CBU returns to action against New Mexico State on Friday and Saturday with a pair of doubleheaders. The first three games of the series will count toward the Western Athletic Conference standings while the final game will be considered a non-conference contest. Friday's twin bill is scheduled for a noon start while Saturday's games are slated for 10 a.m.