RIVERSIDE, Calif. – California Baptist University and New Mexico State split a pair of Western Athletic Conference games at Funk Stadium on Friday afternoon.
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The Lancers took the opener, 5-2, with a strong pitching performance by
Kellye Springstead, along with timely hitting by rookie
Molly Kolander and a walk-off home run by
Brittany Galvez.
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Kolander, a freshman from Danville, Calif., was penciled in the lineup at shortstop for just her second start at CBU. It was a significant opportunity, as she entered the day with only seven official at-bats. Kolander took full advantage, going 3-for-3 at the plate with a single, double and triple, as well as two runs scored.
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In the bottom of the third inning, Kolander hit a one-out triple for her first career extra-base hit. Two batters later,
Deanna Alarcon executed a squeeze play that scored Kolander to give the Lancers an early 1-0 advantage.
The NM State offense was held hitless through the first three innings by Springstead. In the top of the fourth, the Aggies used three consecutive singles to even the score at 1-1.
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Alarcon hit a leadoff single in the bottom half of the sixth.Â
Halle Rosario drove a ball to the opposite field, bouncing off the wall toward the right field corner. Alarcon motored around the bases and avoided a tag at the plate to give the Lancers a 2-1 lead.
The lead did not last long as NM State's Chloe Rivas stroked a first-pitch homer to tie the game at 2-2 in the top of the seventh. Springstead responded by striking out the next batter. In the next at-bat, the Aggies put a runner on base after a fielding error. The potential go-ahead run then advanced into scoring position on a ground out. However, Spingstead came through once again with her seventh strikeout of the game to end the threat.
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Makenna Stram reached base with a one-out single in the bottom of the seventh. In the next at-bat, Kolander singled to left and advanced Stram to second to bring Galvez to the plate. On the first pitch, Galvez hammered a three-run homer beyond the left field wall for the win. Galvez now has five home runs this season.
NM State took the second game, 3-1. Nikki Butler hit a two-run HR to give the Aggies a 2-0 lead in the top of the third. CBU's
Cheyann Tucker smashed her first home run of the season to make it 2-1 in the fourth inning. NM State was able to push across an insurance run in the seventh, and the Lancers were unable to get anything going as they went down in order to end the game.
Springstead started the second game, giving up two runs on four hits and three walks in three innings of work.Â
Giana Lopez was solid in four innings of relief, allowing four hits, all singles, with the run scored being unearned.
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The Lancers move to 17-25 overall and 4-7 in WAC play, while NM State is now 20-16 and 4-4. The two teams will wrap-up a four-game series on Saturday with a 10 a.m. doubleheader. The first three games of the series are part of the WAC schedule, with the final game being a non-conference contest.
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