RIVERSIDE - The Lancers posted another doubleheader sweep on Friday night, first topping the Roadrunners of CSU Bakersfield 9-4 before stifling the Wildcats of Weber State to the tune of a 4-1 victory. Tonight's success moves CBU to 5-3 on the young season, with another doubleheader awaiting them on Saturday.
Priscilla Estrada, Kalena Burns, and the two winning pitchers, Morgan McConnell and Presley Hosick headlined the day's effort. The two hitters combined to go 6-for-9 with four runs scored, four RBI, and five free passes. The hurlers came together for 13.1 IP, allowing just nine hits, four earned and striking out five.
GAME ONE: CBU 9 - CSUB 4
The third game of the day opened with scoring in each of the first four half innings. The Roadrunners struck first with a single run in the first, but the Lancers responded significantly with three runs in the first off a Sydney Soto double and a two-run shot from Kalena Burns.
CSUB would tie the game with two more runs in the second, but CBU would take back the lead in the next frame. Heads-up base running from Estrada led to a single turning into her standing at third courtesy of an errant throw from the left fielder. She would end up scoring just a few pitches later on a wild pitch.
The Lancers would add an insurance run in the fourth thanks to an RBI single from Estrada. Bakersfield would answer with a single run in the top of the sixth before CBU closed the door on the game with a four-run bottom of the sixth on hits from Maya Martinez, Soto, Kate Penberthy, and Burns.
There were also a pair of defensive gems in this one, as Martinez made a diving catch in right in the top of the fourth and a run-saving assist from Soto in center field in the top of the sixth.
Jazmine Castaneda got the start but was relieved in the first inning after giving two free passes and a triple to allow the opening run. McConnell finished the remaining 6.1 innings, striking out a pair and doing it all in just 75 pitches.
GAME TWO: CBU 4 - WSU 1
The second game was less the offensive onslaught than the first, but CBU still managed eight hits and three walks in six offensive frames.
Bobbiann Pratt opened scoring in the fourth inning on her first recorded hit for CBU, scoring Merissa Borkowski all the way from first. The Lancer lead would be tripled in the fifth as pinch hitter Maya Avila came up big for CBU, doubling to deep left field to score Raegam Cheyne and Cayla Crawford. Avilia would later add her own run to the tally, scoring on a wild pitch.
A standup triple in the top of the sixth would plate Weber State's only run of the game. That run crossed with no outs in the frame, creating a menacing situation for Hosick and the Lancer defense. Still, Hosick helped her own cause, collecting an infield hit and tagging the runner from third on her way home to neutralize the Wildcat rally attempt.
After a dominating first game where she went 2-for-2 with a home run, three RBI, and two walks, Burns earned the Barry Bonds treatment against Weber State, earning a walk in all three of her at-bats. Hosick notched her second win of the season after allowing just three hits in the complete game effort.
Tournament action continues tomorrow at the CBU Classic as the Lancers are set to take on Weber State at 3:00 p.m. and Utah State at 5:30 p.m. All day action begins at 10:00 a.m. with CSU Bakersfield taking on Weber State.
