May 2, 2011

IRVINE, Calif. --- No. 1 California Baptist University ended its season with a thriller Thursday night (April 28), getting an extra-inning victory to cap a sweep of No. 5 Concordia (Calif.).

The Lancers took the opener 2-0, and then had to win the nightcap in the eighth inning after the Eagles came back late. CBU won 7-5 and finishes the regular season 55-3 overall, 18-2 GSAC. Concordia falls to 45-11, 13-7, finishing third in the conference after losing its last four games.

“It was definitely a playoff atmosphere today,” said Head Coach Mike Smith. “It was an intense couple of games and we’re fortunate to come away with these wins.”

The early game in Irvine, opened with a bang, as the teams scored a combined six runs, with CBU holding a 4-2 lead after the first inning. Both pitchers settled in and would hold the offenses scoreless until late in the game.

CBU padded their lead to 5-2 when Marshean August scored on a wild pitch in the sixth inning.

With defeat around the corner the Eagles struck back in the bottom half of the sixth. Following a Lancer error, Concordia scored an unearned run on a groundout to pull to within 5-3. After Alicia Lucatero struck out, Amanda Fama stepped to the plate and drove a ball over the left field fence to tie the game with a two-run shot.

The clutch homer would chase starter Tory Ferreira and freshman Courtney McGee entered the game, inducing a groundout to end the inning.

The Lancers threatened to answer with the go-ahead run in the seventh, but Lindsay Henry was thrown out at the plate on a squeeze bunt attempt by April Vasquez. After the Eagles were unable to come up with the game winner, the contest moved to extra innings.

In the eighth it was errors that would sink the eagles.

With August placed on second base, Tina Galinato reached on an error and then Mara Rodriguez also reached on an infielder error, allowing August to score from third. After an intentional walk loaded the bases, yet another eagle error scored Galinato from third base, giving CBU a 7-5 lead. The Lancers scored their two runs in the eighth on three errors and no hits.

“The second run we scored was huge,” said Smith. “That prevented them from being able to just sacrifice the runner over and forced them to swing the bats. I really felt like that made all the difference.”

With the final game of the regular season on the line, Smith turned to his ace, inserting Emma Holden into the game to pick up the save. Holden struck out two and got a groundout to preserve the win.

“Emma was dominant out there,” said Smith. “She had their hitters off balance all day and when it came down to the end of the last game I wanted to go with the player that was hot. Courtney did a great job as well holding their offense in check to put us in that spot.”

CBU took the opener behind a dominant performance in the circle from Holden. The Lancers’ ace threw her eighth complete game shutout, pitching seven innings of three-hit ball. The reigning GSAC pitcher of the year finishes the regular season 28-1, with a 0.74 ERA.

Briana Corral drove in the opening run, with a two-out, bases loaded single in the second inning. The Lancers could not capitalize any more on the bases loaded opportunity and the game would stay 1-0 until the seventh.

CBU again loaded the bases in the sixth inning, but could not pad the lead, popping up twice to end the inning.

Rodriguez finally gave CBU a two-run cushion with a solo-shot in the seventh and Holden made it stand up, stranding one runner in the final frame.

“Everything we have been doing recently has been to get ready for postseason play and now it’s time,” said Smith. “These wins give us great confidence and hopefully we can keep that going.”

CBU will host the GSAC tournament starting Tuesday. The Lancers will face the winner of the Biola vs. Vanguard matchup in a best of three first round series.