California Baptist University
29-22, 16-6
Stephen F. Austin
15-38, 8-16
Lancers Split Friday Action with SFA
5/3/2024 11:10:00 PM | Softball
RIVERSIDE - California Baptist University softball is cemented into the 2-seed for the upcoming Western Athletic Conference. However, that didn't stop them from going full-force on Friday as they attempted to finish the season with another series win. They accomplished half that goal on Friday, taking one of the two doubleheader games against Stephen F. Austin with Saturday day's rubber match set to determine, not just the series win, but to a degree, who makes the postseason.
The Lancers won game one 4-2 before dropping the second game by the reversed score of 2-4. A late rally failed the Lancers in the nightcap, pushing the Lancer record to 29-23 overall and 16-6 in WAC play.
GAME ONE: CBU 4 - SFA 2
Despite technical issues with the stream and live stats, there was no lack of power on the field at Funk Stadium on Friday. The Lancers tallied five extra-base hits, highlighted by Kayla Lyon's team-leading ninth blast of the season, Maya Martinez's timely first of 2024, and a pair of doubles from freshman Kate Penberthy.
The third basemen, Penberthy, laced her first double of the game in the bottom of the first to score Lyon. SFA would answer in the top of the third, but the tie game would be short-lived. In the bottom half of the same inning, Lyon crushed a solo shot to give CBU back its lead.
A sacrifice fly from fellow freshman Matti Severns would plate Penberthy in the fourth, technically and eventually becoming the winning run. The Lumberjacks notched another run in the sixth to make it a 3-2 game, but Martinez was having none of that and sent her first homer of the year well clear of the left field wall.
As clutch as the Lancer offense was, Presley Hosick was, at worst, equally as clutch in the circle. She went three-up-three-down in four of the seven innings pitched against the 'Jacks. She struck out four while allowing just four total hits and two earned on her way to win number 11 and complete game number seven of 2024.
GAME TWO: CBU 2 - SFA 4
The Lumberjacks jumped into action in the top of the first inning, scoring two unearned runs on a single and sacrifice fly. A pitchers duel ensued following the opening scoring as the two sides managed just four combined hits from the bottom of the first through the sixth innings.
Two more runs would cross home plate for SFA, one earned, in the top of the seven, forcing the Lancers to face down a four-run deficit with just three outs to work with. CBU would quickly collect a pair of outs but responded with a walk, a double, and a two-RBI single from pinch hitter Alissa Montes De Oca to make it 4-2 with the Lancers tying run coming to the plate. Unfortunately, that tying run grounded out to second to end the game instead.
Defensively, the Lancers were on point, making no less than four incredible plays in the field in Friday's finale. Soto collected her seventh outfield assist of the season, Priscilla Estrada likely saved additional runs with a heroic diving catch at shortstop, and Maya Martinez connected with first baseman Ashlee Annett for an unlikely 9-3 double play.
Morgan McConnell would shoulder a hard-luck loss after this one. Now owning an 8-11 record this season, McConnell tossed her ninth complete game of the year, allowing SFA just six hits and one earned run with 91 pitches.
The series finale is set for a 4:00 p.m. first pitch on Saturday afternoon, but the rubber match will also host the final home game for seven Lancers. Maya Avila, Maya Martinez, Alyssa Argomaniz, Jazmine Castaneda, Merissa Borkowski, Raegan Cheyne, and Alissa Montes De Oca will all be honored during a brief pregame ceremony and again with a longer postgame celebration. Pregame festivities will begin at 3:30 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hosick, Presley (11-5)
L: Alexis Telford (2-5)
Batting:
2B: Mikaelah Burkland 1 ; Brittany Coe 1
RBI: Mikaelah Burkland 1 ; Brittany Coe 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Chloe Reneau 1 ; Mikaelah Burkland 1
HBP: Hope Lusk 1
Batting:
2B: Lyon, Kayla 1 ; Penberthy, Kate 2
HR: Lyon, Kayla 1 ; Martinez, Maya 1
RBI: Lyon, Kayla 1 ; Penberthy, Kate 1 ; Severns, Matti 1 ; Martinez, Maya 1
SF: Severns, Matti 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lyon, Kayla 2 ; Penberthy, Kate 1 ; Martinez, Maya 1
