Dramatic Walkoff Seals Doubleheader Sweep For Softball Over Grand Canyon

Friday, April 23

Riverside, Calif.

5 PM

California Baptist University

18-25-1, 6-7

Grand Canyon

16-24, 5-5

Grand Canyon

California Baptist

Dramatic Walkoff Seals Doubleheader Sweep For Softball Over Grand Canyon

4/23/2021 10:37:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Daniel Cook, Assistant Director of Athletics Communications

RIVERSIDE - California Baptist University softball made a statement by sweeping a series-opening doubleheader against Grand Canyon on Friday. The Lancers won game one 3-1 and followed that up with a 3-2 extra-inning victory.

It brings CBU's record to 19-25-1 overall and 7-7 in the Western Athletic Conference play and moves it into third place in the league standings. The Lancers leapfrogged Dixie State and Grand Canyon, as both went winless on Friday. GCU drops to 16-25 overall and 5-6 in the WAC, as the Lopes have lost their last five in-a-row and are just 1-9 in their previous 10 games played.

GAME ONE
Grand Canyon scored in the opening frame off of a bases-loaded walk. The Lopes would fail to put any of their next eight batters on base and would manage just three more hits as game one starter for CBU Kerisa Viramontes settled into the circle after a long first inning. Viramontes earned her 13th win on the year after giving up just four hits with four strikeouts in seven innings of work.

CBU would answer with a run of its own in the bottom of the first, taking advantage of a GCU error during a Tiana Patrick at-bat, plating Ashley McBay to tie the game. The Lancers would take the lead in the bottom of the third inning when Deja Westbrook scorched a single up the middle to score Patrick from second.

⚔️2⃣-1⃣🟪 Deja Westbrook puts this hard hit single into the grass, giving the Lancers the lead!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/mjg9tDuFTo
— California Baptist Softball (@CBUSoftball) April 24, 2021

The Lancers would get a late insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning off the bat of McBay, who laced a ball to the right center wall and legged out her second triple of the season, to score Westbrook from second.

Ashley McBay, provider of insurance runs 🤝#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/JFH552ZrBC
— California Baptist Softball (@CBUSoftball) April 24, 2021

CBU was on point defensively all game long, taking away multiple potential extra-base hits from the Lopes. The first display fans were treated to was a diving catch on a fly ball, while Westbrook was battling direct sunlight to make the grab.

Who wouldn't want a second angle of this web gem!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/ILWmaPKaJm
— California Baptist Softball (@CBUSoftball) April 24, 2021

Westbrook would be challenged for the top defensive play of the day when freshman Maile Olsen would prove her glove skills at the hot corner with a spectacular grab, nearly doubling up a runner at first.

😼 Maile Olsen shows off the cat-like reflexes on the hot corner!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/gE1cVdvhkf
— California Baptist Softball (@CBUSoftball) April 24, 2021

GAME TWO
The nightcap began in identical fashion to game one as both teams scored a run in the first inning. A sac fly in the top of the inning by the Lopes was answered by an RBI double in the bottom half by Katelyn Mangrello.

🗣 GET OFF MY BAT, BALL! 🗣 Katelyn Mangrello drives in Ashley McBay with a double to right!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/eUplZfTXsb
— California Baptist Softball (@CBUSoftball) April 24, 2021

GCU would take the lead again in the third inning on a solo home run to left field for a 2-1 advantage. It wouldn't be until the bottom of the sixth that the Lancers would receive their tying run from Patrick, who lifted her third homer of the season to dead center field, tying the game and giving the Lancers new life.

THEY DON'T CALL HER T-BOMBS FOR NOTHING! 💣 TIE GAME. #LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/kuQBoq8z1Q
— California Baptist Softball (@CBUSoftball) April 24, 2021

Gretchen Goldsmith would start the game in the circle for CBU, throwing six strong innings while striking out three and allowing just four hits. Head Coach Bill Baber would call upon Viramontes to close out the game, making the switch in a tie ball game in the top of the seventh. Viramontes would handle the Lopes, who would put runners on in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings, but they would never truly threaten. Viramontes earned the top spot in the conference win column all by herself with her 14^th win.

Amanda Argomaniz would get the bottom of the ninth started with a leadoff single, advancing to second on a sac bunt from Makayla Jordan. Freshman Maile Olsen would come up two batters later with two outs and Argomaniz still waiting on second. Olsen squared up an 0-1 pitch and put it into the left-center gap, allowing Argomaniz to score easily from second, and earning her second game-winning hit of the season.

MAILE OLSEN CALLED GAME. 🔥 WALK-OFF WIN! We sweep today's double-header!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/X8DxSBXqdR
— California Baptist Softball (@CBUSoftball) April 24, 2021

WHAT'S NEXT
California Baptist and Grand Canyon will conclude their series with the final game on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m. at John C. Funk Stadium.