RIVERSIDE – California Baptist University softball completed its first-ever sweep over NM State on Saturday, using a four-run third inning to propel itself to the 6-1 win. The Lancer claim their first conference home sweep since taking three straight from Utah Valley in April of 2019.
The sweep improves CBU to 21-16 on the year and 4-2 in the WAC. The Lancers are now tied for second place in the West Division with Seattle U, just one game behind Grand Canyon in the top spot. NM State slides to 6-21 on the year and 1-5 in conference play, a year removed from only dropping four total league contests.
Deja Westbrook paced the squad at the plate tonight, going 2-for-2 with two runs scored.
Karmyna Becerra legged out her third triple of the season, which is already tied for the single-season record in the Division I era.
Katelyn Mangrello recorded her fifth hit of the series on Saturday, adding two more doubles and four RBI to her season totals. Mangrello came in as the team leader at the plate, and improved her batting average by 19 points since Friday. She now owns an average of .385 which is the eighth-highest in the WAC, while her 12 doubles are three more than any other hitter.
The series finale opened with a quick score by the Aggies in the top of the first to grab just their second lead of the series. It would last until the bottom of the third when CBU put up four runs on three hits.
Westbrook's single woke up the Lancer offense as the team's first hit of the game to lead off the bottom of the third. She would score from first two batters later on
Samantha Demyon's second double of the year. The next two Lancers would each earn walks, loading the bases for Mangrello who would reach on a fielder's choice, scoring Demyon.
Becerra put the very next pitch into right field for a two-run triple to put the Lancers up 4-0.
A passed ball in the fourth would bring in pinch runner
Michaila Harrington, and an RBI groundout from
Nicole Stark in the sixth would plate Westbrook to reach the final score of 6-1.
New Mexico State weren't about to go down without a fight, as they ripped a two out triple in the top of the seventh to attempt to begin a rally, but reliever
Jazmine Castaneda finished the game by striking out the next Aggie hitter.
Alyssa Argomaniz earned her second win of the series, and ninth of the season, tossing five innings, while allowing just one earned and striking out a pair. Argomaniz ends the week with the second-best ERA in the conference at 2.26, and the third-most strikeouts in the WAC, 75.
UP NEXT
The Lancers will head to Arizona next weekend for three games against the West Division leading Lopes of Grand Canyon. GCU has built up a 22-9 overall record with a 5-1 conference record.
