CBU Cruises to Saturday Night Victory over Columbia

Saturday, March 12

Riverside, Calif.

5:30 PM

California Baptist University

16-12

Columbia

2-9

Columbia

California Baptist

Photo by: Elijah Hickman

CBU Cruises to Saturday Night Victory over Columbia

3/12/2022 10:27:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Daniel Cook, Assistant Director of Athletics Communications

RIVERSIDE – Hot bats got California Baptist University softball out to a big lead against Columbia on Saturday night, allowing the Lancers to claim a comfortable 7-3 win at Funk Stadium.

CBU is now 16-12 on the season after winning its last three games at home by a combined score of 16-6. CBU has just two more non-conference games on the schedule before conference play starts next weekend.

Sydney Soto, Katelyn Mangrello and Maile Olsen all recorded two hits on the night, combining for four runs batted in and four runs scored. Samantha Demyon and Nicole Stark recorded one hit each, with Demyon driving in one run while Stark scored one and drove in a pair.

Soto opened up the game by doubling to left and stealing third before most fans had even settled into their seats. Stark would drive her home two batters later with her fifth double of the season. Mangrello matched Stark's hit, sending hers through the right side for two bases, scoring Stark.

After a groundout saddled the Lancers with two outs, Olsen knocked an RBI single to right field, scoring Mangrello and chasing the Lions' starting pitcher after just 0.2 innings pitched and three earned. Tiana Patrick would be on the receiving end of a four-pitch walk from the relief pitcher, setting the table for Demyon to collect the team's third double of the opening frame to go up 4-0.

4⃣ Sammy Demyon records the third double of the inning to bring in Olsen from second after securing her sixth steal of the year!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/YQWjswHmkc
— California Baptist Softball (@CBUSoftball) March 13, 2022

Columbia would take one run back in the top of the second, but the Lancers answered with three more in the bottom of the inning. Soto led off the second inning in a row with a double to deep left field eventually coming home on a sacrifice fly from Stark. Mangrello also hit her second double in the second inning, scoring Raegan Cheyne who had gotten aboard after working her own four-pitch walk.

Like déjà vu, the Lions pulled their pitcher in consecutive innings hoping to stop the bleeding. CBU would plate one more run as pinch runner Molly Kolander scored from third on Olsen's sac fly to left.

Though the Lancers had plenty of offense early on, the defense again shined bright under the lights, making critical plays that saved hits and runs throughout the contest. Stark has been a ball magnet during her recent streak of starts at third base, showcasing defensive dominance in back-to-back plays in the top of the sixth.

♨️♨️ Nicole Stark is so cool fielding back-to-back screamers at the hot corner!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/iuxVmJ4kGy
— California Baptist Softball (@CBUSoftball) March 13, 2022

Alyssa Argomaniz got the start in the circle for CBU but left too early to earn the win. She had a good outing even if it was short, limiting Columbia to one earned run on three hits while striking out two in three innings in the circle. Jazmine Castaneda threw four solid innings of relief work, also allowing just three hits, one earned, and giving up one free base to earn her eighth win of the season.

UP NEXT

The Lancers will close out the UCR/CBU Classic with a rematch against Columbia on Sunday. The finale is set for a 3:00 p.m. first pitch time at John C. Funk Stadium.