RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Azusa Pacific had a near-certain split with California Baptist in hand when it took a five-run lead into the bottom of the seventh inning of the second game of Saturday's Pacific West Conference softball doubleheader. However, the Lancers took advantage of six free bases in the seventh, scoring five runs with two outs to force extra innings and scoring the game-winner with two outs in the eighth inning for a 3-1, 6-5 doubleheader sweep of the visiting Cougars.
California Baptist took advantage of six free bases in the seventh, drawing five walks along with a hit by pitch, and it was two infield singles in the eighth that set up Savannah Miller's game-winning single to center field that completed the 6-5 come-from-behind win.
The Cougars built their five-run second-game lead with a single run in the first, three runs in the second inning, and one more in the seventh. Senior designated hitter Desiree Chavez drove in four of Azusa Pacific's five runs, including her three-run double in the second inning which pushed the lead to 4-0.
Meanwhile, junior pitcher Narissa Garcia gave up just two hits through the first six innings before CBU rallied in the seventh. Garcia issued consecutive one-out walks but struck out Nicole Hennessey for the second out of the seventh. The next batter was hit by pitch, and Mowatt delivered a two-run single to cut the lead to 5-2. Two more walks brought in another run, making it 5-3, and DeVaere followed with a two-run double to tie the game.
The Lancers recorded consecutive one-out infield singles, and after a groundout for the second out, Miller delivered the game-winner with her single to center field.
In the opener, sophomore pitcher Carly Xepoleas scattered three runs on five hits and struck out three, but Azusa Pacific could only convert nine hits into a single unearned run as California Baptist posted a 3-1 win in the opener. Freshman shortstop Illiana Jimenez and sophomore rightfielder Abry Moreno each collected two hits for the Cougars in the opening-game defeat.
Moreno drove in Azusa Pacific's only run of the game, slapping a two-out single up the middle to score senior centerfielder Sona Babayan, who reached on a single and took two extra bases on a CBU error.
After the sweep, Azusa Pacific is now 18-16 overall and 12-11 in PacWest play, while California Baptist improves to 30-6 overall and 19-3 in the PacWest. The Cougars host Cal State San Marcos for a nonconference doubleheader on Monday, March 23, at 4 p.m., starting a three-week stretch between conference games.
