Lancers Battle Hard To Close out GCU Series

Saturday, April 2

Phoenix

1 PM

California Baptist University

21-19, 0

Grand Canyon

25-9, 0

CBU

Grand Canyon

Lancers Battle Hard To Close out GCU Series

4/2/2022 3:44:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Daniel Cook, Assistant Director of Athletics Communications

PHOENIX - California Baptist University softball challenged Grand Canyon in the final game of the series in Phoenix, leading for the majority of the contest before the Lopes collected themselves and finished a late rally to take the win, 4-3. The Lancers now stand at 21-19 on the season with a 4-5 record in the Western Athletic Conference while GCU moves to 25-9 this season and take a commanding lead in the conference standings at 8-1.

CBU scored immediately as Sydney Soto was hit by a pitch to leadoff the game and eventually scored on Katelyn Mangrello's 24^th RBI of the season.

On the board first in Phoenix!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/upUGLh8kgy
— California Baptist Softball (@CBUSoftball) April 2, 2022

Despite plenty of baserunners between the Lopes and Lancers in the first five innings, scoring would be held at bay until the sixth inning. CBU extended its lead on Molly Kolander's first RBI of the season, a long single to right, scoring Deja Westbrook from second.

Molly Kolander picks the perfect time for her first RBI of the season, scoring Westbrook, and giving the Lancers some breathing room in the top of the sixth!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/dxEtGoa3aX
— California Baptist Softball (@CBUSoftball) April 2, 2022

Starting catcher Mackenzie San Pedro would follow that up with a productive out, smoking a ball to the shortstop, whose only play was to get the out at first, allowing Amanda Argomaniz to score from third, and giving the Lancers a late 3-0 lead.

San Pedro plates another run on a productive second out in the top of the sixth! Lancers up three!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/U7mHiToWcd
— California Baptist Softball (@CBUSoftball) April 2, 2022

The Lopes would string together multiple hits in an inning for the first time in the bottom of the sixth, leading off the frame with a single and then hitting back-to-back doubles with two outs to tie the game. A fielding error to start the bottom of the seventh would prove costly for the Lancers as that Lope would find her way home to claim the walk-off win.

Starting pitcher Jordan Schuring would get a no-decision after going 5.2 innings and being charged with all three sixth inning runs. Schuring had a good outing, holding the hot hitting Lopes to 0-6 with runners in scoring position until those two doubles connected.

Jordan Schuring gets a pair of strikeouts to strand two Lopes in the bottom of the third! Lancers still lead 1-0!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/b5l8wWYjjW
— California Baptist Softball (@CBUSoftball) April 2, 2022

UP NEXT

The Lancers return to Funk Stadium for their next WAC series, hosting Dixie State. The Trailblazers will visit this weekend for a three-game stint beginning with a doubleheader on Friday scheduled for a 4 p.m. start before the series finale at 5 p.m. on Saturday.