{"id":272448,"date":"2026-04-17T11:07:22","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T11:07:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/272448\/"},"modified":"2026-04-17T11:07:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T11:07:22","slug":"california-baptist-softball-team-rallies-past-uc-riverside-sweeps-crosstown-showdown-series-press-enterprise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/272448\/","title":{"rendered":"California Baptist softball team rallies past UC Riverside, sweeps \u2018Crosstown Showdown\u2019 series \u2013 Press Enterprise"},"content":{"rendered":"

RIVERSIDE \u2014 The bats alone were not getting the job done for the California Baptist University softball team Thursday night.<\/p>\n

So, Lancers coach Brandon Telesco decided to force the issue.<\/p>\n

\"California<\/p>\n

California Baptist University\u2019s Miranda De Nava pitches against UC Riverside in a nonconference softball game on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"UC<\/p>\n

UC Riverside\u2019s Emory Cheng pitches against California Baptist University in a nonconference softball game on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"UC<\/p>\n

UC Riverside\u2019s Aubrey Marx celebrates after scoring against California Baptist University during the top of the sixth inning in a nonconference softball game on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"UC<\/p>\n

UC Riverside\u2019s Arianna Saldivar reaches for the ball to tag out California Baptist University\u2019s
\nBrooklyn Bassett in a nonconference softball game on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"California<\/p>\n

California Baptist University players celebrate with their \u201cLance Up\u201d sign after defeating UC Riverside 2-1 in a nonconference softball game on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"California<\/p>\n

California Baptist University\u2019s seven years old fan, from Eastvale girls softball, cheers during a non-conference softball game against UC Riverside on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"California<\/p>\n

California Baptist University\u2019s Stevie Robison reaches for the ball during a non-conference softball game agains UC Riverside on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"UC<\/p>\n

UC Riverside\u2019s Eta Lauti is congratulated by head coach Brittney Matta in a non-conference softball game against California Baptist University on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"California<\/p>\n

California Baptist University\u2019s Savannah Gatewood and Makayla Medellin try to get the ball during a non-conference softball game against UC Riverside on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"California<\/p>\n

California Baptist University\u2019s Jasmine Goins runs through bases to score against UC Riverside in a non-conference softball game on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"California<\/p>\n

California Baptist University\u2019s Jasmine Goins slides to score against UC Riverside in a non-conference softball game on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"California<\/p>\n

California Baptist University\u2019s Jasmine Goins (#21) is congratulated by teammates after scoring to lead against UC Riverside in a non-conference softball game on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"UC<\/p>\n

UC Riverside\u2019s Eta Lauti reaches for the ball in a non-conference softball game against California Baptist University on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Summit\u2019s<\/p>\n

Summit\u2019s Kingston Durant slides on first base in a Sunkist League baseball game against Grand Terrace on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"UC<\/p>\n

UC Riverside\u2019s Trendee Kahunahana tags out California Baptist University\u2019s Malachy Russell-Millen in a nonconference softball game on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"California<\/p>\n

California Baptist University\u2019s pitcher Miranda De Nava reacts after winning against UC Riverside in a non-conference softball game on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"California<\/p>\n

California Baptist University\u2019s pitcher Miranda De Nava (#14) celebrates with teammates after winning against UC Riverside in a non-conference softball game on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"California<\/p>\n

California Baptist University\u2019s Kenzie Farrier-Pilon at batting in a non-conference softball game against UC Riverside on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"California<\/p>\n

California Baptist University\u2019s Jasmine Goins (#21) celebrates with Bella Wellbaum after scoring to lead against UC Riverside in a non-conference softball game on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 19<\/p>\n

California Baptist University\u2019s Miranda De Nava pitches against UC Riverside in a nonconference softball game on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a><\/p>\n

An aggressive approach on the bases in the bottom of the sixth inning led to a pair of runs, as the Lancers rallied for a 2-1 victory over UC Riverside in a nonconference game at CBU\u2019s Funk Stadium and completed a \u201cCrosstown Showdown\u201d season sweep.<\/p>\n

That sixth-inning rally made sure Miranda De Nava\u2019s four-hitter and season-high, 13-strikeout performance did not go to waste.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s part of our identity,\u201d Telesco said of the aggressive running. \u201cIt\u2019s our style. We want to apply pressure on our opponents.\u201d<\/p>\n

De Nava and UCR\u2019s Emory Cheng waged a classic pitchers\u2019 duel, as neither team got a runner past second through five innings.<\/p>\n

UCR (5-30 overall) finally broke through against De Nava in the top of the sixth inning. Aubrey Marx singled to lead off the frame, and she circled the bases and scored the game\u2019s first run when Kayla Penor smasjed a two-out double into the gap in left-center.<\/p>\n

Penor, a freshman catcher from King High, previously struck out twice against De Nava, a sophomore from Riverside Poly High.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is what I\u2019m most proud of this freshman group. They\u2019re making good adjustments,\u201d said Highlanders coach Brittney Matta, who started five freshmen Thursday night. \u201cThey aren\u2019t settling for the same things happening. And that\u2019s why they\u2019re out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

CBU (35-14) had an immediate response. Makayla Medellin tripled of the wall in right-center field with one out in the bottom half of the sixth inning. Ashlee Annett (Roosevelt High) drew a walk and then faked a steal of second base. When Penor\u2019s throw went all the way through to second base, Medellin bolted for the plate and slid head-first into home with the tying run for the Lancers.<\/p>\n

Jasmine Goins (Roosevelt High) came in to run for Annett. Malachy Russell-Millen smoked a double down the left-field line, and Telesco waved Goins home. The relay to the plate was in time, but Goins was safe when the ball popped out of Penor\u2019s glove.<\/p>\n

This has been a memorable week Russell-Millen, a senior third baseman who homered and knocked in five runs in the Lancers\u2019 13-6 loss at UCLA on Tuesday night. CBU jumped out to a 4-0 lead in that game, which was tied at 6 going into the sixth inning.<\/p>\n

\u201cLittle-ole\u2019 CBU doing some damage against a Power 4 school like UCLA. I don\u2019t think that game has really settled in for me yet,\u201d Russell-Millen said. \u201cWe always felt we were going to win today. It was just who was going to get that hit? It happened to be me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Telesco has not been surprised to see Russell-Millen rise to the occasion in those clutch moments.<\/p>\n

\u201cHer leadership has been incredible,\u201d Telesco said. \u201cUCR took the lead, but Malachy came into the dugout telling everyone that we were in a good spot (2-3-4 hitters due up in the bottom of the sixth). She works hard, and everything she\u2019s getting is earned.\u201d<\/p>\n

De Nava\u2019s rise ball got away from her a bit in that sixth inning, but she came back strong and struck out the side in the seventh.<\/p>\n

\u201cI talked to my pitching coach (Haylei Archer) and asked what was going wrong,\u201d De Nava said. \u201cShe just told me to reset and go back to the basics. I tried not to let it faze me. Once my team got us the lead, I knew I was going to go out and finish this game.\u201d<\/p>\n

It has been a rough season for UCR, but Matta has been encouraged by her team\u2019s performances against the Lancers this year. CBU won the first meeting of the season 3-0 on April 7.<\/p>\n

\u201cCBU is a great mid-major program, and they have the backing and support over here,\u201d Matta said. \u201cSo when we play them well, that\u2019s a good thing for us. We are striving to be better in all areas. It\u2019s a young group, and all I can ask from them is to compete.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cheng, one of the five freshmen starters, was saddled with a tough-luck loss. She allowed the two runs on six hits in six innings.<\/p>\n

CBU\u2019s Bella Wellbaum made her first start of the season. She was 1 for 6 at the plate prior to Thursday evening, but she tallied half of the Lancers\u2019 six hits in the game. Jackie Alday had a pair of hits to lead the way for the Highlanders.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"RIVERSIDE \u2014 The bats alone were not getting the job done for the California Baptist University softball team…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":272449,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[7,9,8,1327,14502,127],"class_list":["post-272448","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-california","tag-california","tag-california-headlines","tag-california-news","tag-college-sports","tag-softball","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/272448","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=272448"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/272448\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/272449"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=272448"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=272448"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=272448"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}