LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The Cal Lutheran softball team swept its third opponent in the last four series as it defeated Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) foe Occidental 3-2 and 9-0 during a doubleheader at Bell Field Saturday. Cal Lutheran has now won eight of its last nine games, its best stretch since they started the 2009 season 9-1.
Game one saw Cal Lutheran limited to just six hits but the Regals but had timely hitting in the top of the fifth inning as they pushed across three runs. Shonna Christianson led off with a double to left center and advanced to third after Katelyn Dowing successfully laid down a bunt-single. The Regals then executed a safety-squeeze and Liz Mertel bunted to the right-side of the infield to drive in Christianson while Downing moved to third. Christina Hunter then delivered a sacrifice fly to right field that drove in Downing and pulled CLU even with the Tigers at 2-2. Cal Lutheran's leading hitter, Kelly Lockwood, gave the Regals the lead for good when she lined a triple on the next pitch down the right field line and then scored when the relay throw got away from the third basemen, putting CLU up 3-2.
After Occidental scored in the third and fourth, Downing (5-9) settled in over the final three innings, scattering five hits while going the distance to earn her fifth win of the year.
Brittany Labbe and Kayla Sakamoto had the other hits for the Regals while Ali Goldberg and Julia Nichol each had two hits for the Tigers.
Brittany Vacura (6-10) suffered the complete-game loss for Occidental.
Game two saw Cal Lutheran capitalize off five Tiger errors and stand-out pitching performance from Christianson as CLU blanked Occidental 9-0 in five innings.
Lockwood got Cal Lutheran on the board in the top of the first when she doubled to left center and later scored on a passed ball. The Regals then got two more runs in the top of the second when Lockwood lifted an RBI-single into left field that Christianson scored on. A batter later, Debben Hoffer came home on a wild pitch that put CLU up 3-0.
The Regals exploded for six runs in the top of the fifth led by three straight singles to begin the inning. Tinsley led off with a base hit to right field while Ryanna Morua followed a bunt-single. Christianson then notched her third hit of the game when she drove in Tinsley and Morua with a two-run a base hit. CLU continued its offensive charge when pinch-runner Stephanie Banyi scored when Lockwood was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Christianson (4-5) shut the door after allowing two hits in the bottom of the fifth to earn the complete-game shutout.
Lockwood again led the charge with two hits while Christianson also added two knocks to lead CLU offensively.
Patricia Phi and Nichol had two hits apiece for the Tigers in the loss while Ali Goldberg was tagged with the loss.
Cal Lutheran (12-18, 7-13 SCIAC) will hope to continue its winning ways when it hosts No. 10 Redlands Friday, April 12, at Hutton Field. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m.
Game 1: CLU 3 Oxy 2
Game 2: CLU 9 Oxy 0 (5)
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