CBU Notches First DI Postseason Victory in Extra Innings, Splits Day One

Wednesday, May 10

Phoenix, AZ

1 PM

California Baptist University

28-27

#5 Tarleton State

30-27

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
California Baptist	4	0	0	0	2	1	0	3	10	14	3
Tarleton State	0	0	4	0	2	1	0	0	7	13	1

Photo by: Rachel Sollazzo

CBU Notches First DI Postseason Victory in Extra Innings, Splits Day One

5/10/2023 11:22:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Daniel Cook, Associate Director of Athletics Communications & Digital Media

PHOENIX – California Baptist University fought through a brutal opening day of the 2023 Western Athletic Conference Softball Tournament on Wednesday afternoon, defeating Tarleton 10-7 in extra innings before losing to Seattle 3-1 in the day one finale.

The Lancers smacked 18 hits in 15 innings in their DI postseason debut, with six recording multi-hit games and six scoring or driving in multiple runs.

GAME ONE: CBU 10 – SEATTLE 7

The Lancers couldn't have scripted a much better start to the game, plating four runs in the opening frame off of RBI efforts from Alissa Montes De Oca, Valerie Alvarez, and Maya Martinez. The Lancers would send eight to the plate in the inning, forcing the Texans' starting pitcher to throw 37 pitches and ultimately chasing her from the game after just one inning of work.

Toe the line for ✌️ Ali gets the Lancers on the board in the first with a hot shot down the left field line!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/GKKo70yn4A
— California Baptist Softball (@CBUSoftball) May 10, 2023

The Texans were tenacious, collecting multiple hits in the first and second innings and loading the bases in the fourth. They would capitalize on that situation with the tournament's first grand slam, tying the game at four through three innings.

CBU would retake the lead in the top of the fifth inning off the second two-RBI single from Alvarez on the day, only to be answered by the Texans with a pair of RBI singles in the bottom half of the inning. The scoring continued in the sixth, with Samantha Demyon scoring on a Sydney Soto ball in play. Still, again, Tarleton would answer with one of their own to enter the final inning of regulation knotted at seven.

After review, the score is confirmed, 7-6 Lancers❗️#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/QhYvEE4eaa
— California Baptist Softball (@CBUSoftball) May 10, 2023

CBU was dialed for extra innings, plating Priscilla Estrada, Natalie Elias, and Soto to take a comfortable 10-7 lead into the bottom half of the inning. Presley Hosick would face the minimum in the final half of the inning, striking out one while inducing a game-ending double play to earn the win. Montes De Oca separated herself in game one not only at the plate but with multiple stellar plays on the defensive side as well.

Ali ends the bottom of the second with an unassisted double play!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/aEr7KpI2Xo
— California Baptist Softball (@CBUSoftball) May 10, 2023

GAME TWO: SEATTLE 3 – CBU 1

Game two got a late start as the game prior went into extra innings, but the 8:05 p.m. first pitch just gave the Lancers a little extra time to catch their breath from their own eight-inning affair earlier in the afternoon. Game four on the day was a quick and efficient effort by both teams……

It took three innings, but CBU broke finally broke the scoreless stalemate with an RBI single from Demyon, who brought in Martinez on a fly ball to shallow right field. The Redhawks took the lead with a three-run bottom of the fifth after scoring on an infield single and a single up the middle.

⚔️1⃣ - 0⃣🔴 Samantha Demyon gets CBU on the board first! Lancers take the lead in the top of the third!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/RYlgwc49rH
— California Baptist Softball (@CBUSoftball) May 11, 2023

Carly Limosnero pitched well in the second game, tossing a complete game while allowing just those three earned. The freshman was never rattled during her effort and struck out four on 96 pitches.

Despite the loss, the Lancers are still alive in the tournament, just shifting focus on a run through the consolation bracket toward their final goal. CBU will play the loser of the 10 a.m. game on Friday, a match-up between #2 Grand Canyon and #3 Stephen F. Austin. The Lancers will meet their foes in the 4:00 p.m. game with a win-or-go-home outcome on the line.