THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - A couple of late scoring rallies gave Cal Lutheran softball a pair of conference home victories by 5-3 and 5-2 margins on Friday afternoon. Shannon Tinsley capped off a game one seventh inning rally with a walk-off three-run homer.
Box Score (Game One): CLU 5, OXY 3 - F
Box Score (Game Two): CLU 5, OXY 2 - F
Cal Lutheran took part in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's (NFCA) StrikeOut Cancer program on Friday wearing pink uniform tops and raising funds through selling bingo cards during Friday's doubleheader. It was a successful day raising funds and awareness for a good cause, and for the Regals winning a pair of league contests.
Cal Lutheran 5, Occidental 3 - F
Trailing 3-2 with runners on second and third base with two outs, Tinsley stepped up to the plate. The Tigers elected to pitch to the Regals team leader in homers this season in spite of an available unoccupied spot at first base. Tinsley took the 0-1 pitch over the deepest part of the park to complete a dramatic two-out game-winning rally.
The Regals were down to their final out trailing by a 3-1 score with the bases empty. Back-to-back singles from Kayla Sakamoto and Debben Hoffer kept hope alive.
Katelyn Downing was down to her final strike before lining the full count offering into left field scoring one and putting the game-tying run just 60 feet away. Tinsley provided the deciding blow with a towering blast over the center field wall for her team leading sixth home run and 22nd RBI of the season.
The comeback was necessary after Occidental tacked on runs in the fourth, fifth, and seventh innings. A small ball strategy featured five sacrifice bunts and eventually paid dividends late in the game. Four different players led the Tigers with a pair of base hits. Kristine Kocjan led Occidental with a pair of runs batted in.
Shonna Christianson picked up her first collegiate victory in the circle following the late rally. She went the distance allowing three runs (two earned) and scattered 10 hits over seven innings. Occidental stranded 10 runners on base including three in the fifth after Christianson collected one of her three strike outs on a bases loaded, full count offering.
Cal Lutheran 5, Occidental 2 - F
Occidental (4-20, 2-13 SCIAC) scored twice in the first frame following an RBI-double from Jerika Barron and an RBI-groundout from Nicole Hannasch. The Tigers would collect all five of their hits over the first three innings before CLU pitcher Katelyn Downing took over in the fourth.
The Regals reliever needed just 46 pitches to toss four perfect frames to retire 12 consecutive batters to close out the game. Cal Lutheran stayed within comeback range and made the most of what would eventually be its final team at bat of the afternoon.
Occidental game two starting pitcher Amber Garland was effective through her first five innings of work. She held the Regals scoreless and limited the lineup to just four base hits in the process. She was relieved after the first three CLU hitters in the sixth reached base safely.
Cal Lutheran put runners in scoring position trailing 2-0 providing Shannon Tinsley the opportunity to hit her second walk-off home run of the day. However with first base open the Tigers elected to load the bases on a four pitch walk.
OXY game one pitcher Brittany Vacura entered game two facing a bases loaded, no outs scenario and CLU's Brittany Labbe at the plate. Labbe, who went 2-for-3 against Vacura in game one, collected her third hit against the Tigers hurler tying the game 2-2 with an opposite field single.
A run-scoring base hit from Danika Green and a two-run double by Sara Lichtsinn, along with four stolen bases were the major highlights of a five-run sixth inning rally. It was more than enough insurance as Downing capped off her dominating performance for the win.
Since 2010 tight battles have been the theme of the series between these two teams. Ten of the past 12 contests have been decided by three runs or less, including six one-run decisions.
Cal Lutheran (10-22, 3-13 SCIAC) will play its final two road games of the regular season on Saturday, April 7, against La Verne (15-13, 7-9 SCIAC).
