Lancers Sweep Day Two in Oxford

Saturday, February 29

Oxford, Miss.

7:30 AM

California Baptist University

6-12

Jackson State

6-10

California Baptist

Jackson State

Lancers Sweep Day Two in Oxford

2/29/2020 5:57:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Daniel Cook, Assistant Director of Athletics Communications

OXFORD, MISS. – California Baptist University's offense was rolling, as it rattled off eight runs in game one against Jackson State and then avenged Friday's loss to Missouri State by topping the Bears by a 3-1 score. The day-two sweep puts the Lancers in Sunday's championship game for a rubber-match against host Ole Miss.

GAME 1: CBU 8 - JSU 7 (8 inn.)

Heading into the top of the sixth inning, the Lancers trailed 7-3. They had led early after senior Brittany Galvez led off the game with her first home run of the season, but Jackson State built up a lead in the second inning.

CBU's rally was initiated when freshman Kaitlyn Mangrello launched her first career homer, a three-run shot, in the top of the sixth inning to make it a one-run game, 7-6.

The Lancers tied the game in the top of the seventh, 7-7. CBU used the combination of a single from Ali Belloc, a stolen base from pinch runner Michaila Harrington, and a big triple from Makenna Stram to deep center field.

The Tigers attempted to take back their lead, but CBU relief pitcher Gretchen Goldsmith sat down the JSU five-six-seven hitters in order to give the Lancers a chance to finish the comeback.

Galvez not only scored first run of the game, but the final one in the top of the eighth. She was placed on second base in the top of the inning per international-tie-breaking rules applied in non-conference tournaments, and moved to third after Robertson laid down a bunt single.

Mangrello came back to the plate and solidified her career game with an RBI single to left field that scored Galvez and what would eventually prove to be the game-winning run.

Goldsmith finished the game by forcing a line out to first, a fly out to center, and emphatically ended the contest with her career-best ninth strikeout of the game.

This marked the second time this season multiple Lancers went yard, as Galvez and Mangrello imitated Caitlyn Lloyd and Mackenzie Budinger from the season opener against UC Davis.

GAME 2: CBU 3 – MSU 1

The second half of the day's doubleheader proved to be a closer game, but the Lancers knocked nine hits on their way to scoring their three runs.

Molly Kolander would bring in the first run of the game to take the initial 1-0 lead.

Missouri State would answer in the bottom of the third with on a one-out double that brought in a run. MSU would put runners on second and third before having its rally abruptly ended on one of four strikeouts from Giana Lopez.

Budinger laced her first triple of the season to score Harrington in the top of the fifth inning to give CBU the lead back, 2-1. Later in the same inning, Amanda Argomaniz got it done on for the Lancers at the plate, as she singled through the left side to score Budinger for what would come to be the final run of the game.

Mangrello had her best day in a Lancer uniform, going 5-for-8 with five RBI and a home run in her 12^th and 13^th games for CBU and her seventh-straight start at backstop.

Goldsmith earned her first win as a Lancer after coming in relief in the third inning of game one. Her nine strikeouts and six innings pitched were both career highs.

Lopez pitched her second complete game of the season. She allowed just one run on seven hits with four strikeouts to earn her second win of the season.

California Baptist will face off with the tournament's host, Ole Miss in the championship game on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. PST. This will mark the third meeting between these two team this season with each owning a win in the series.