Lancers Pick Up a Pair of Wins Against the Thunderbirds

Friday, March 22

Riverside, Calif.

4:00 PM

California Baptist University

15-16, 2-1

Southern Utah

12-12, 2-2

Southern Utah

California Baptist

Lancers Pick Up a Pair of Wins Against the Thunderbirds

3/22/2024 10:00:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Mariah Rodriguez, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications and Digital Media

RIVERSIDE--- The California Baptist softball team picked up a pair of wins on Friday evening against Western Athletic Conference opponent Southern Utah. The Lancers started the doubleheader with a 9-1 win that invoked the run rule in the sixth inning and a 9-4 win to cap off the day. CBU improves to 16-16 on the year and snags a 3-1 conference record before going for the series sweep on Saturday evening.

Kayla Lyon was the name to know during the first game of the day after a pair of home runs from the sophomore would help the Lancers to their first victory of the day. CBU started hot and never took their foot off the gas, picking up a pair of runs in the first inning via Lyon's first homer of the game. A pair of RBI singles from Kate Penberthy and Matti Severns secured another two runs in the bottom of the third before another two-run inning would come to fruition in the fourth. Southern Utah managed to score a single run off a sacrifice fly to avoid the shutout, but a three-run shot from Lyon ended the game after the Lancers extended their lead by eight.

The Thunderbirds put up a stiffer fight in the second game of the day and drew blood first after tallying a single run in the second inning. Priscilla Estrada immediately responded in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single and Lyon helped the Lancers take their first lead of the second game in the third with an RBI double.

Southern Utah did not go down without a fight and tied the game, courtesy of a fourth-inning RBI single. California Baptist answered yet again, only this time with seven runs in a single inning, highlighted by a grand slam from Penberthy. The Thunderbirds managed to throw a pair of runs on the board in their last offensive outing but could not come back from the seven-run deficit.

Merissa Borkowski impressed in the second game with four hits, ending the day with six total. Overall, the Lancers combined for 24 hits on the day, and the CBU pitching staff notched six strikeouts from the circle. Jazmine Castaneda and Presley Hosick each picked up a win, while Morgan McConnel snagged a pair of saves.

CBU is set to return to Funk Stadium on Saturday at 5 p.m. for the final installment of the series.