CBU Claims First WAC Series Win

Saturday, April 13

Riverside, Calif.

10:00 AM

California Baptist University

18-25, 5-7

NM State

20-17, 4-5

NM State

California Baptist

Photo by: Reagan Lee

CBU Claims First WAC Series Win

4/13/2019 3:25:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Mike Minyard, Assoc. AD for External Relations

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – California Baptist University clinched its first-ever Western Athletic Conference series with a 2-0 victory against New Mexico State at Funk Stadium on Saturday morning. The Lancers won two of three league games against the Aggies. The two teams played a fourth game, a non-conference affair, with NM State winning 3-1 to split the four-game weekend series.

Kellye Springstead was sensational in the first game, not allowing a hit until the fourth inning. The Aggies did not pose as much of a threat offensively, finishing with just three hits and only two runners advancing into scoring position. The three hits are the fewest she has allowed in a complete game seven-inning effort this season. Spingstead retired the side in the second, finishing with seven strikeouts. It's the eighth time this season that she has struck out seven or more in a game. CBU's ace ranks second in the WAC with 134 strikeouts this season.

Both teams remained scoreless through five innings, combining for only four hits. Neither had an extra base hit until Makenna Stram smacked a double, her first of the season, in the bottom half of the fifth.

With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, CBU put together a series of hits to get on the scoreboard. Caitlyn Lloyd and Mackenzie Budinger had back-to-back singles to bring Cheyann Tucker to the plate. Tucker, with a 3-1 count, smashed an opposite field double just beyond the reach of the right fielder to give the Lancers a 2-0 lead.

LET'S GO‼️

Lancers score a pair of runs after three consecutive two-out hits! Caitlyn Lloyd and Mackenzie Budinger had back-to-back singles, and Cheyann Tucker brought them home with an opposite field double!#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/aIvF6VydcS
— CBU Softball (@CBUSoftball) April 13, 2019

Springstead shutdown NM State in its last chance at the plate, retiring the Aggies in order. Stram made an incredible diving catch in right field to end the game. Spingstead picked up a WAC-best 16^th win of the season in her 21^st complete game of the season. It was her league-best fifth complete game shutout of the season and 13^th of her career.

LANCERS WIN!

Makenna Stram seals the deal with a game-ending diving catch as CBU takes its first-ever WAC series with a 2-0 win over New Mexico State! Kellye Springstead picks up her WAC-leading 16th win of the season with today's complete game shutout!#LanceUp | #SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/Y6LBibWLqQ
— CBU Softball (@CBUSoftball) April 13, 2019

In the second game, NM State struck first with a pair of runs scored in the first inning. CBU put pressure on the Aggies with the bases loaded in the third inning, but was unable to capitalize.

Tucker cut into the Aggie lead with a leadoff home run in the bottom half of the fourth to make it 2-1. Tucker had a breakout performance this weekend, going 5-of-9 with her first two homers of the season along with a double, while scoring twice and knocking in four RBI.

🔥🔥🔥

Cheyann Tucker has been crushing the ball this weekend! Just hit her second HR of the series. She's 5-8 at the plate with two runs and four RBI against NM State.

She still has time to do some more damage.#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/Ise0UmVXN6
— CBU Softball (@CBUSoftball) April 13, 2019

The Aggies were able to get an insurance run in the top of the seventh to extend the lead to 3-1.

CBU found itself once again in a position for potential walk-off heroics. With one out, Amanda Argomaniz reached base after being hit-by-pitch and Molly Kolander came in as a pinch runner. Brittany Galvez stepped into the box as the possible game-tying run, having hit a walk-off home run to win the series opener on Friday. However, Galvez drew a walk on four straight balls to put two on the bases. In the next at-bat, Deanna Alarcon reached on a fielder's choice with Kolander getting out at third.

Down to the final out, Halle Rosario was at the plate with two runners on. Rosario leads the team in RBI (21) and is second in batting average (.341) -- exactly who CBU wants at the plate in this situation. With a 2-0 count, Rosario popped up to the Aggie shortstop to end the game.

The Lancers move to 18-26 overall and 5-7 in WAC play, while NM State is now 21-17 and 4-5. CBU took the WAC series with the first three games counting toward the league standings. The fourth game was a non-conference contest.

CBU will remain home for a three-game series against conference foe Utah Valley next weekend. The series opens with a doubleheader on Friday at 5 p.m. The series finale and Senior Day will take place on Saturday at noon.