Lancers Split Seattle Series Doubleheader

Friday, April 16

Seattle

2 PM

California Baptist University

17-23-1, 5-5

Seattle U

17-17, 4-3

California Baptist

Seattle U

Lancers Split Seattle Series Doubleheader

4/16/2021 6:55:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Daniel Cook, Assistant Director of Athletics Communications

SEATTLE – California Baptist University softball has only faced off with Seattle U once in program history, a three-game sweep by the Redhawks in 2019 that closed out CBU's inaugural season in Division I. The Lancers have eagerly waited for two years to erase that zero in the win column and did so with a split on Friday afternoon, winning 4-3 before falling 2-0.

The Lancers record sits at 17-24-1 and 5-6 in WAC play with Seattle now at 18-17 and 5-3 while hanging on to the top spot of the conference standings. Today's doubleheader produced 25 total hits but just nine runs as both teams were hard-pressed to bring home runners in scoring position all day.

GAME ONE

Action began early as the Lancers loaded the bases in the top of the first to no avail while Redhawks scored a pair in the bottom of the first inning off of a one-out home run. CBU evened up the game in the top of the second, chipping away at Seattle's defense with two walks, two singles, and a sacrifice bunt, eventually scoring two off a Tiana Patrick single.

⚔️2⃣-2⃣🔴 Tiana Patrick smokes a bases-loaded single between the Redhawks pitchers legs and we're tied at two!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/UffKTUn78V
— California Baptist Softball (@CBUSoftball) April 16, 2021

The Redhawks threatened often in the opener, but defensive plays like a diving catch in left field by Deja Westbrook, and a heads up defensive play by Maile Olsen to go home for a play at the plate with catcher Patrick in the bottom of the third, kept Seattle U from potentially running away with the game early.

Deja Westbrook with a spectacular diving catch in left field! We're headed to the seventh still tied at three!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/SrAbjMNeBy
— California Baptist Softball (@CBUSoftball) April 16, 2021

The Lancers would need something big to happen with the game tied at three-all in the final inning. CBU had its five, six, and seven slot hitters queued up with Seattle's three, four, five hitters scheduled in the bottom half of the inning. Abby Robertson would reach first after lifting a single just out of reach of the shortstops outstretched glove, and that was all the opening that the Lancers would need as Maile Olsen came to the plate. Olsen squared up a 2-2 pitch and laced it off the top of the right center fencing, earning her a standup triple and scoring Robertson from first.

⚔️4⃣-3⃣🔴 Maile Olsen smacks a standup triple in the seventh to give the Lancers a one-run lead going into the final half inning! It's up to Kerisa Viramontes to handle the 3-4-5 hitters for Seattle U!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/9QJvWfD7sh
— California Baptist Softball (@CBUSoftball) April 16, 2021

Seattle U would manage to get a leadoff baserunner on in the bottom of the seventh but wouldn't truly threaten as the next three batters would go down in order. CBU starting pitcher Kerisa Viramontes recorded one of her four strikeouts in that final frame, earning her 12^th win of the season on her 13^th complete game of the year.

Olsen, who added a double to her late-game triple, and senior Ashley McBay recorded two hits each in the series opener. Patrick, who had two runs-batted-in, was the only Lancer with more than one RBI in the opener.

GAME TWO

Game two saw Lancer starting pitcher Gretchen Goldsmith go the distance, giving up seven total hits and striking out three while keeping Redhawk hitters to just 1-11 with runners in scoring position. With runs at a premium, Seattle would ring up an RBI single and a sacrifice fly in the second inning that would ultimately account for all the scoring in the game.

The Lancers went cold at the plate in game two with Westbrook and Robertson managing to snag the teams only hits in the second inning. While the bats were lacking, the gloves kept the game close as CBU never gave up.

Gretchen Goldsmith executes the perfect scoop-and-toss to Katelyn Mangrello to tag out the Redhawk at home!#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/dyX0K1q4Iz
— California Baptist Softball (@CBUSoftball) April 17, 2021