THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - The Cal Lutheran softball team exploded for a combined 30 runs and 31 hits in a two-game sweep over George Fox (Ore.) Monday afternoon at Hutton Field. CLU had its highest single-game run total in more than four years as it defeated the Bruins 18-0 in five innings during game one. The Regals offense stayed hot in game two, pounding out a season-high 16 hits in a 12-8 victory, completing the first sweep of the season for CLU.
Cal Lutheran scored early and often in game one, pushing across six runs in each of the first three innings. The Regals benefited from two Bruin errors in the first inning before Shannon Tinsley blasted a double down the right field line to score Kelly Lockwood and Kayla Sakamoto. A batter later, Blake Lewis drove in Tinsley and Brittany Labbe on a base-hit through the right side. Later in the inning, Lockwood came up with her second hit of the inning, this time driving in Christina Hunter and putting CLU up 6-0.
The Regals pieced together four straight singles to start the bottom of the second inning. Shonna Christianson and Hunter had back-to-back singles to put CLU up by eight runs. Cal Lutheran would later score four unearned runs on three Bruin errors, pushing the lead to 12-0.
Ryanna Morua and Tinsley each had two-run singles in the bottom of the third to put the game out of reach and give CLU its first mercy-rule victory since it beat Puget Sound 10-0 last season.
11 different Regals had at least one hit in game one with Tinsley leading the way with a 2-for-3, four RBI performance. Lockwood was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored while Lewis was 2-for-2 with two RBIs as well.
Not to be outdone by the offense, CLU starting pitcher Katelyn Downing (3-8) was equally impressive, allowing just four hits in the complete-game victory.
Kat Hylton was 2-for-2 at the plate for the Bruins while Amanda Woods (1-2) earned the loss on the mound.
Game two started out much the same as the first with the Regals scoring three runs in both the first and second inning. Tinsley got CLU on the board first with an RBI-single that scored Lockwood and then CLU benefited from a three-base error by the Bruins right fielder, plating Tinsley and Lewis.
Cal Lutheran pushed across three more runs in the bottom of the second thanks to an RBI double from Lockwood, a sacrifice fly from Labbe and another RBI single from Tinsley.
The tables would turn however as the Cal Lutheran bats would cool off over the next two innings and George Fox began to find its rhythm at the plate.
Trailing 6-1 in the top of the third, George Fox scored in three straight innings to pull within 6-4.
Liz Mertel came through in the clutch in the bottom of the sixth when she delivered a two-run base hit, putting CLU up 8-4.
George Fox responded with two more runs in the top of the sixth but the Regals got two two-run singles from both Mertel and Lockwood to put the game out of reach.
Lockwood led CLU at the plate going 3-for-5 with three RBIs while Mertel was 3-for-4 with three RBIs as well. Tinsley had three hits and two RBIs in game two.
Christianson (4-5) earned her second straight victory on the mound, going three innings and allowing two runs on six hits.
Rachel Fielder (3-2) suffered the loss for the Bruins, allowing four runs on nine hits.
Cal Lutheran continues its non-conference schedule when they host Hamline (Minn.) on Tuesday, March 26. First pitch at Hutton Field is set for 11:00 a.m.
Game 1: CLU 18 GFU 0 (5 innings)
Game 2: CLU 12 GFU 8
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