
Lancers Double Up On Walk-Offs Against Long Beach State
3/16/2021 8:38:00 PM | Softball
The Lancers record improves to 9-14 having won four of the last five games, while Long Beach drops to 4-4 in its young season.
GAME ONE
Long Beach and California Baptist were locked in a scoreless pitchers dual until the top of the sixth when the Beach finally broke through with a solo home run to take a 1-0 lead. They wouldn't be ahead long as Mangrello would put one over the fence herself in the bottom of the inning to tie things again.
Kaitlyn Mangrello crushed this one! All tied up going into the seventh!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/IivrsBGLhq
— California Baptist Softball (@CBUSoftball) March 17, 2021
Pitching wasn't the only thing keeping this one close and starting left fielder Molly Kolander made a spectacular diving catch in the top of the fifth to end the inning and keep the score level.
That catch! 🤩#NCAASoftball x 🎥 @CBUSoftball pic.twitter.com/yJE6oxgx9A
— NCAA Softball (@NCAAsoftball) March 17, 2021
LBSU would threaten in the top of the seventh with a runner at second and one out but CBU starting pitcher Kerisa Viramontes would force two easy groundouts to get into the final frame still tied. The bottom of the seventh would open with Maile Olson working a 10-pitch walk and get moved over to second on a pinch hit single by Tiana Patrick. The game would end as Mia Alvarez connected on an infield hit that the Beach second baseman couldn't handle, plating Olson for the game-winning run.
WALK OFF!!! Lancers take game one against the Beach as Maile Olson scores the game winner!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/QC92p7cXjz
— California Baptist Softball (@CBUSoftball) March 17, 2021
Viramontes would earn the win as she tossed her seventh complete game of the season, allowing just one earned on three hits.
GAME TWO
Scoring in the nightcap was much more spread out. The Lancers jumped to a quick 3-0 lead after a long Mangrello single in the first brought in Makayla Jordan from second and a second inning, two-run bomb from Amanda Argomaniz plated Tiana Patrick and put the Lancers up three-love.
ARGO 💣!!
Amanda Argomaniz blasts a two-run shot in the second as the Lancers build an early lead!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/yDtDbwKF2i— California Baptist Softball (@CBUSoftball) March 17, 2021
Between the offensive highlights, center fielder Ashley McBay added to her 2021 defensive highlight reel by stealing on extra-base hit with a leaping effort into the wall.
🥎🆙
Ashley McBay with the defensive play of the year so far!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/BgwLGAF3Xf— California Baptist Softball (@CBUSoftball) March 17, 2021
The Beach would go on to score the next four runs over the course of the fourth, sixth, and seventh innings, giving them a 4-3 lead and daring the Lancers to try to walk-off two games in a row. CBU met that challenge as timely hits got the Lancers into position and defensive issues continued to cost Long Beach State.
California Baptist would score its first run of the seventh on a fielders choice as the Beach pitcher attempted to nullify the threat by going home instead of the easy out at first, but her toss to the catcher was high and late, allowing pinch runner Michaila Harrington to score the tying run. Not long after, Samantha Demyon, who reached on a throwing error earlier in the inning, would score the game-winning run when Jordan laced a hit to center field that would smack into the palm of the fielders gloves and drop out, sealing the victory for CBU.
BACK-✌️-BACK WALK-OFFS‼️#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/14YyXOF5vc
— California Baptist Softball (@CBUSoftball) March 17, 2021
Gretchen Goldsmith would start the game for the Lancers, looking strong through five innings, allowing five hits and two earned, but a leadoff homer in the sixth would be her final pitch. Goldsmith would ultimately end up with a no decision on the night. Viramontes would come into a tie game and eventually earn the win for the Lancers, her seventh of the year, on two innings of work with one hit and no earned runs allowed.
WHAT'S NEXT
CBU travels back up north for a pair of doubleheaders against Pacific and Saint Mary's this Thursday and Friday, respectively. The Pacific series is scheduled for 12 and 2:30 p.m. game times while Saint Mary's will begin at 1 p.m. followed by the finale at 3:30 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Viramontes, Kerisa (6-4)
L: White, Kellie (2-2)
Batting:
2B: Martinez, Lilyanna 1
HR: Wise, Breezy 1
RBI: Wise, Breezy 1
SH: Cecil, Cam 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Wise, Breezy 1
HBP: Machado, Ashley 1

Batting:
2B: Jordan, Makayla 1
HR: Mangrello, Katelyn 1
RBI: Mangrello, Katelyn 1 ; Alvarez, Mia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mangrello, Katelyn 1 ; Olsen, Maile 1
HBP: Argomaniz, Amanda 1