CHICO, Calif. — In its fifth-straight NCAA Division II West Region appearance, No. 14-ranked California Baptist University jumped out to a three-run lead and held on for a 3-1 victory over No. 21-ranked UC San Diego on Thursday.
 
The Lancers improve to 34-10 overall, while the Tritons drop to 35-18.
 
Ciara Stapp threw a complete game for CBU, striking out six batters in seven innings in the circle.
 
"I'm glad I was able to keep my team in the game," said Stapp. "They played great defense behind me and got some key hits."
 
Things were quiet for the first two and a half innings until Amanda Springstead led the bottom half of the third off with a double. Brittany Galvez knocked a high bouncing ball up and over the pitcher's head to put two runners on, before Soraya Shahbazian tucked a double inside the left field line to score Springstead, 1-0.
 
With two outs and runners on second and third, Halle Rosario drilled a line drive into the gap in shallow right center to score two more runners, putting the Lancers in front 3-0.
 
The Tritons responded in the top of the fourth, scoring one run to cut the score to 3-1.
 
Neither team would score again, however, as Stapp locked down the defense in the final three innings to seal the 3-1 victory for CBU.
 
The Lancers play again Friday at 11:00 a.m. against No. 2-ranked Chico State, which beat Northwest Nazarene in Thursday's second game 5-2.