California Baptist University
3-2
Army
2-3
CBU Tops Army Late to End Opening Weekend Winners
2/9/2025 5:19:00 PM | Softball
RIVERSIDE - California Baptist University softball closed out opening weekend as winners after walking off Army West Point on Sunday afternoon, 8-7. The Lancers finish opening weekend 3-2 with two run-rule victories and 28 runs scored.
The Lancers started hot, as Kate Penberthy tallied RBI number nine on the weekend in the bottom of the first, bringing in Priscilla Estrada for the early lead. The Black Knights evened the score with an unearned run in the top of the second, but CBU broke away in the bottom half of the inning.
The Lancers would build a significant lead after batting through the lineup in the bottom of the second. Sydney Soto got things started with a leadoff single, scoring the first run of the frame two batters later. In the end, Valerie Alvarez, Malachy Russell-Millen, and Stevie Robinson would tally RBIs in the inning on well-placed singles, scoring Soto, Matti Severns, Estrada, and Russell-Millen to build a 6-1 lead. A sacrifice bunt from Alvarez would plate Soto again an inning later to give the Lancers their biggest lead of the day at 7-1. Army would storm back in the top of the fifth with five runs of their own and another in the sixth to tie the game late.
The seventh inning saw Army threaten in the top, moving their leadoff hitter onto third, but with two outs, eventually leading to fly out to Soto in centerfield to squash the threat. CBU now faced their first chance to complete a natural walkoff in 2025, starting with Penberthy at bat. The third baseman worked the count to 3-0 and then took the fourth off her elbow protector for a free pass to first. Jasmine Goins would pinch run for her, eventually stealing second to put the winning run in scoring position. A ground out to second moved her over to third but with two outs. Soto, who ended the top of the seventh, smacked the first pitch she saw into left field and walked off the Black Knights.
CBU will remain at home for their next game, hosting the Crosstown Showdown on February 12 at 6:00 p.m. at Funk Stadium. The game is scheduled for Wednesday night, but with potential impending weather, game time may be adjusted to avoid the storm. Check CBULancers.com for any game time updates.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: McConnell, Morgan (1-2)
L: Flanders, K. (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Sigler, M. 1
HR: Newburn, C. 1
RBI: Newburn, C. 3 ; Sigler, M. 1 ; Dones, M. 3
SH: Christiana,A 1
Base Running:
RUNS: White, A. 2 ; Brown, T. 1 ; Newburn, C. 1 ; Sigler, M. 1 ; Tepley, S. 1 ; Bocis, S. 1
HBP: Hurst, L. 1 ; Sigler, M. 1 ; Smith, S. 1
Batting:
2B: Penberthy, Kate 1
3B: Soto, Sydney 1
RBI: Robison, Stevie 2 ; Penberthy, Kate 1 ; Soto, Sydney 1 ; Alvarez, Valerie 2 ; Russell-Millen, Malachy 1
SH: Alvarez, Valerie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Estrada , Priscilla 2 ; Goins, Jasmine 1 ; Soto, Sydney 2 ; Severns, Matti 1 ; Lopez, Laci 1 ; Russell-Millen, Malachy 1
SB: Goins, Jasmine 1 ; Severns, Matti 1
HBP: Penberthy, Kate 1
